Stretching Much? About Yoga

If at any point in your life, you've played an organized sport or read a book about fitness, you've probably heard that you're supposed to warm up before exercising. Stretching is a great way to warm up before hopping on your Bowflex, and it can help reduce the likelihood of injury by getting the blood flowing and loosening the muscles. It also improves all-around flexibility.

My favorite way to warm up is with a few yoga positions. I know, some of you guys out are there thinking, "Ewww, yoga is for girls." You wouldn't be caught dead at a Yoga class. That's OK. There are plenty of tapes and DVDs you can get that show you the basics of doing Yoga at home. You can throw a DVD in the player, close the curtains, and nobody will ever know you were hopping around your living room trying to get your foot behind your head.

If you're interested in picking up a couple of yoga DVDs, I recommend Yoga for Dummies and Yoga for Inflexible People. The Yoga for Dummies is a great slow-paced introduction that explains everything in easy-to-understand terms. Yoga for Inflexible People is a little more advanced, but is still perfectly doable by the average person. The great thing about this DVD, is there are more than 30 routines, ranging from 15 minutes to over an hour. You really get your money's worth. Bowflex + Yoga = fit limber body.

Disclaimer: You should consult your doctor before beginning an exercise program.

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