I just started the P90X program because I want to develop some upper body strength. I have been running for years but I want to change things up a bit and this program looks like it is really fun. I got my butt kicked by the Core workout....and I was thinking maybe I bit off more than I can chew, but I have enjoyed all of the other workouts....except.....Yoga =( I have never liked Yoga and I can handle the little bits that show up in all the other workouts but I can not force myself to get through an hour and a half of Yoga. Has anyone else run into this problem?? I think that I may just go for a run on the Yoga days that way I can keep my running up. Mostly I am just looking for suggestions....I do enjoy the workouts and I look forward to the day I can do a pull up or even two...but I just can't make it through Yoga.

Thanks!!

I know EXACTLY how you feel! I hate it so much that if I HAD to do it I would quit the whole damn program and move on to something else. Some of the moves are just too painful for me and my low back. Im thinking about ordering a less advanced yoga dvd from Amazon. Everyone on here will tell you to just stick with it and you will start to enjoy it...I call baloney on that one...lol. Whatever you decide to do good luck with your program

There's alot of other posts out there about the yoga. Basicly though, Yoga is REALLY good for stretching, relaxing, and working out those tiny muscles that you just can't do curls to work on. If you can't handle 1 1/2 hours of it, try finding a shorter video you can do. I usually do the Fountain of Youth One on With with Tony video, it's only 48 minutes long. Like jeffreydc says, alot of people will say stick with it you'll like it. For some people that is baloney, some people just can't handle long boughts of yoga. At the end of the video though you'll feel so much better. If you keep it up you'll be able to push yourself and do more and more of the yoga and you'll be much more flexible.

Ok so I am wrapping up my first 30 days, so my Yoga experience has been once a week, and then twice on my 'recovery week' this week.

The first three weeks I HATED yoga with a passion. I would look for any excuse not to do it, searching for something to substitute, etc. I was annoyed with yoga. It either felt too easy, or felt too hard if I tried for perfect form. Or many times it felt BORING. Oh another vinyasa, zzzzz....

That all changed for me during my recovery week. I have yet to pinpoint WHY it changed, but I know it did. My wife, who actually taught Yoga at one point, thinks it was because my core strength finally caught up with my arm/leg strength. I now feel POWERFUL through the moves. Energized. My vinyasa's are not just plank, pushup type thing into upward dog, plank, pushup, downward dog ... they are all one smooth motion now. I concentrate on pinching those elbows and tearing the heck out of my arms and shoulders as I fluidly move between poses. My triangles and twisting poses finally work right, I can get my hand on the floor and my chest opened up. I can do the crane and hold it a few seconds. I can do the wheel thing with my hands on the floor and my entire body arched up. When I stretch at the end, I can actually get my face onto my knee and my hands onto my heels. These are all firsts for me, and man they feel GOOD.

I get done with yoga now and feel like a million bucks and it's now one of my favorite workouts in the series.

I cant say stick with it, it will grow on you ... because I can imagine how it might not. But it did for me and I am glad I stuck with it.

And for anyone saying it's too easy, you probably need to have a trained yoga person check your form, cuz there's nothing easy about that yoga routine if done perfectly!

Rick

I look forward to that day where I can really get in to it myself. I just ordered some other yoga dvd's from blockbuster online for beginners and inflexible people. Maybe after I train on those for awhile I have what it takes to complete the p90x version. Thanks for the encouragement Rick.

I have completed P90X and on round two (sort of). I can't say YogaX is my favorite but I still do it and I still get an incredible sweat out of it, so it stays in my rotation!

Rick wrote:

QUOTE:
Ok so I am wrapping up my first 30 days, so my Yoga experience has been once a week, and then twice on my 'recovery week' this week.

The first three weeks I HATED yoga with a passion. I would look for any excuse not to do it, searching for something to substitute, etc. I was annoyed with yoga. It either felt too easy, or felt too hard if I tried for perfect form. Or many times it felt BORING. Oh another vinyasa, zzzzz....

That all changed for me during my recovery week. I have yet to pinpoint WHY it changed, but I know it did. My wife, who actually taught Yoga at one point, thinks it was because my core strength finally caught up with my arm/leg strength. I now feel POWERFUL through the moves. Energized. My vinyasa's are not just plank, pushup type thing into upward dog, plank, pushup, downward dog ... they are all one smooth motion now. I concentrate on pinching those elbows and tearing the heck out of my arms and shoulders as I fluidly move between poses. My triangles and twisting poses finally work right, I can get my hand on the floor and my chest opened up. I can do the crane and hold it a few seconds. I can do the wheel thing with my hands on the floor and my entire body arched up. When I stretch at the end, I can actually get my face onto my knee and my hands onto my heels. These are all firsts for me, and man they feel GOOD.

I get done with yoga now and feel like a million bucks and it's now one of my favorite workouts in the series.

I cant say stick with it, it will grow on you ... because I can imagine how it might not. But it did for me and I am glad I stuck with it.

And for anyone saying it's too easy, you probably need to have a trained yoga person check your form, cuz there's nothing easy about that yoga routine if done perfectly!

Rick

Spot-on. I had a similar experience with Yoga. Had never done it. Initailly found it very tough, long and frustrating. Now it's still very tough and long, but also very rewarding. I am much more fluid whenn doing it now.
I think someone said it on here but it's like downing a big glass of orange juice. You just feel like you've done something good for yourself afterwards. Yoga's the same. You owe it to yourself to give it a chance. Tony's very keen on it and that's enough for me.

You should hang in there and complete the program. Its going to be worth it. I did not like Yoga like everyone else. But I have grown to like it now. The 1st 1/2 is the hardest but you just need to get good at doing your vinyasa in good form and balance for the twisting triangle stuff.

Robert

what rick said above was almost IDENTICAL to my own experience! wow. almost to the T. i hated the first few times, to the point where i split the video up and only did half one time, then the other half the next. why? cuz it was HARD!! others on here that are fairly advanced say this yoga routine is pretty tough.

so jeffrey, its not ALL baloney! its my belief that people hate it because they can't do it. rick's wife brings up a good point that its probably because his core is getting stronger and more flexible, making the whole routine easier. i know that was the case for me. and once it got "easier" (and by no means easy!!), it was more enjoyable.

imagine all those people who start that can't do a pull up, and say, hey, i can't do a pull up, i hate chest and back, i'm gonna skip that video! no! you "do your best and forget the rest!"

hang in there et1ronji! and good luck!

Thank you so much for all the comments =) I have never enjoyed Yoga and maybe over time I will learn to like it but for now I will take the advice from here and at least do half of it...and also throw in a 40 min run.

Once I get over this flu that is kicking my butt....I am going to get back on the program with Yoga included.

Thanks again =)

I'd do the whole thing if I were you. If you do only the first (hard) half you'll probably quit altogether after a few weeks because it's quite hard. If you do only the second half you won't reap the benefits of the hard half. The second half helps you relax and stretch out after all the hard work in the first half - plus there's so ab work in there, too.
Stay the course.

I know exactly how you feel, I went through one complete cycle of p90x always skipping or not doing very much yoga. During the second cycle I really made a commitment to force myself through it, and now I love it. I actually do yoga every day, so just give it a try..

I can relate to the Yoga hate. I started to hate Thursdays as I had over an hour of Yoga. As a runner I agree it feels like running can take it's place. It doesn't if you continued to run it will not give your body the proper stretching and core work that running lacks.
I am now on week 10 and ready for the final stretch. The yoga will come around and is crutial to your overall results. Good luck

I have to echo the sentiments of Rick and Coco. I started to enjoy Yoga during my first recovery week and now it is possibly my favorite workout in the program.

The first three weeks it was a struggle and I dreaded it, but I always forced myself to do it. Even on the poses that seemed impossible, I at least gave it a shot.

Now, there is no better feeling than after a Yoga workout. My body always feels like liquid, but not in an exhausted way, but fluid in a strong way.

Yoga is obviously of major importance to this program, evident by the fact that you do Yoga more than any other workout in the 90 days. I wouldn't skip it or short change it if I were you. To quote Tony, "No one says it was going to be easy! It's not supposed to be!"

Sometimes when your mind gets bored its on things that you really need to improve on so try to keep yourself alert on that, maybe your bored because you really need it...

I couldn't stand yoga either, especially the last 45 minutes. What I do now is work through the first 45 minutes and go for a 2-3 mile run after.

I have tried and I have failed....I dread Thursday because it's yoga day! It stresses me out that I hate to do it. I went to a few classes at the Y just to make sure I was doing it correctly, I am flexible and an decent form....but I HATE it!!!

I find a good run with some of my favorite tunes on a great trail here in sunny San Diego is when I relax and really feel benefits of my P90X. After the core workout I feel taller and my running form is improved. I love hearing the beat of my heart and my feet and pushing my way up the hills at Balboa....I hate Warrior One, Two and the stillness of the Yoga....UGH....

Anyway I wanted to thank everyone for the advice and I am doing the P90X workout's in addition to my runs. I have found I really enjoy the weight training and I have never liked to lift weights so that it a benefit for sure....and I LOVE the Core workout...it kicks my butt but I love every second of it and I can't wait to do it each week.

Overall I think the entire program is great but I am not following the exact workout day for day. I love that the DVD's have introduced me to some great new workouts and ways to challenge myself and I am seeing some good results overall.

Thanks again everyone =)

I just wanted to let you know that girl Im with you on the yoga! I tried it for the first time today and about 20 minutes into it I swapped it out for cardio X (which has some in it and it tolerable). Im super ADD and it just doesnt hold my attention. Im in downward dog looking out the window watching my bird feeder, oh there a bluejay, we should really finish off this basement, I need to do this......Im all over the place. Thats the way I am in normal life...but hey...Im a great multitasker!

Anyway, your not alone...at least cardio x is giving me some yoga!

Audrey

Just make sure you dedicate some time each week to flexibility. X-stretch is a great way to do it, and you can pick which part of the body you like to stretch, as Tony starts at the top of the body and works his way down during the video.

If you don't stretch, you'll regret it!! Being strong AND flexible is a definite plus!

And, yes, I'm stretching tonight!!

Kevin

My advice to the original poster would be to replace Yoga X with X Stretch for the first 30-45 days. Once your body is used to stretching, then give Yoga X another shot and see if it is more enjoyable then.