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Ask the FBGs: Do I Need to Do More Than Just Yoga?

yoga

Yoga is awesome, but is it a complete workout? Credit: lululemon athletica

Today we’re featuring an Ask the FBGs post. This feature allows readers like you to ask the FBGs for advice. Nothing is off limits, although we do prefer that it’s fitness or nutrition related, so send your undying health questions to AsktheFBGs@fitbottomedgirls.com. You just might see them posted on the site in the future!

Hi girls,

I have been practicing yoga for two years now. In those two years, I’ve also done some other aerobic and kickboxing workouts but with little or no success. I would like your opinion on my problem.

See, I am 114 pounds and 5- foot 3-inches tall, so yoga does work on keeping my weight at a steady and healthy number, but I’m not sure that my legs are exercised enough. I do walk and I have tried Jillian Michaels’ workouts, but I can’t keep up with her (she is awesome). I am working currently at an office, so I am not active most of the work day. I practice yoga for an hour, about four times a week. I usually practice Power Yoga with Bryan Kest or a Rodney Yee workout DVD.

So to wrap it up, do you think I should combine yoga with some other form of exercise? And if so, which form do you recommend?

Thank you sooo much for your help all this time,
Helen

 

Dear Helen,

Yoga is a great activity for building flexibility, core strength and calming the mind! And it’s fabulous that you’re specifically doing power yoga because it’s strength-building and more likely to get your heart rate up. So, go you! But it sounds like you’re wanting to maybe feel a bit stronger and more fit. Am I right? If you’d like to take your fitness routine up a bit, we suggest swapping one of your weekly yoga sessions (or adding an additional workout to your weekly schedule) for a strength-training circuit. The great thing about circuit training is that it can double as both cardio and strength. It’s also quick and can give you great results.

So what the heck is circuit training? Well, it’s basically doing one exercise followed by another followed by another with no rest in between. It’s easy to create a circuit-training workout at home using nothing but a chair and your body. Here’s a simple circuit-training workout you can try. Start doing the circuit just once through for the first few weeks, and then as time goes by, do the circuit two to three times in one workout. Feel free to add any other exercises you love.

After a few months of doing this, you’ll probably be ready to try one of Jillian’s workout DVDs again! And, again, kudos for already being active. Let us know how it goes!

Jenn

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