Focusing on New Practice

[Guest guest]

If I could be so bold as to get back to actual

ashtanga practice on this forum, I'd like to ask a

question.

 

When does your body change from muscle bulk to muscle

tone? After a few months of working on the primary

series four - five times a week, I've noticed that my

upper body is becoming bulkier, presumably due to the

increased work load. I'm okay with that; I've

exercised long enough to know this is a natural

occurance. However, I'm wanting to know when this

bulk will actually begin to better metabolize and to

tone into muscle. It seems to be taking a while.

 

Thanks for your advice!

 

Dorene in Ohio

 

 

 

 

New DSL Internet Access from SBC &

http://sbc.

[Guest guest]

I have the same deal going on, and it's been 2 years and nothing has

changed. I have asked before, and people always say that you

shouldn't worry about your body, and it will take care of itself.

There is osteoporosis in my family, so believe me, bulky shoulders

are better than a dowager's hump, which 3 women in my family have.

 

Still, I'm human. I know you said you don't mind the bulk, but I

really don't like it at all on me. I am not tall, and my upper body

looks so much thicker this way. So I've decided to diet and get a

few pounds off, and I did start back running to try to get my leaner,

lighter feel back. I've also begun doing shoulder stretches when I'm

just sitting around, I have tight shoulders--but they are also very

strong. That's the part of my body that has really bulked up.

 

I don't know if it wll work or not, and the benefits of ashtanga yoga

are worth more than being self-conscious about a thicker body. But

it is frustrating because even the male practitioners that I know

have long lean bodies. My teacher is tiny, but she can do lots of

the strength poses.

 

Oh--one more thing I'm trying to do is to use balance and the bandas

to do the strength poses. I tend to muscle my way through them.

Anyway--that's it. Perhaps that will help.