Yoga ….
I have a love/hate relationship with Yoga. I “hate” yoga, and I “love” subbing a different workout for it! LOL!
I tried YogaX when I started P90X Classic for the first time and quickly decided that I was going to do something else instead. I understood that it worked the core, balance, and flexibility, but I just couldn’t get into it. My heart rate never got high, I didn’t sweat much, and I sure didn’t have to start breathing hard. The moves were difficult and challenging, so in that respect it was “hard”, but I didn’t feel like I was getting a good workout. It seemed more like glorified stretching than anything else. Besides, how does an hour of downward dog do anything for me??
Well, I set out to prove that I could get the very best results EVER with P90X despite skipping Yoga. And I may have done it! I got tired of hearing people on the message boards swear that Yoga is the key to everything. Blah Blah Blah! I was going to prove them wrong!
Well, I didn’t do Yoga for about 6 months, instead using Core Synergistics and my P90X / Insanity hybrids. I don’t regret it at all. I think my results speak for themselves.
BUT …. during my Round 3, after going back and forth with some of y’all about yoga, I decided to put it back into my recovery week. And so I’ve been doing it (not every week as part of my normal training block, but twice on recovery weeks).
Well, do you think I’ve had an epiphany that Yoga is the key to it all? Heck no! I still hate it! I still think it feels like glorified stretching. But I’m gonna do it by golly!
And as I prepare for Round 4 (which starts in 10 days!), I am actually going to put yoga into the starting lineup! So all you yoga lovers can get off my back! But it won’t be Yoga X because 90 minutes is just too much to bear! I will be using Fountain of Youth Yoga from the Tony Horton 1-on-1 series (which BB must know is more popular because they now send it out as a free gift to anyone who buys P90X through their BB coach!).
Fountain of Youth yoga is similar to the first half of Yoga X but with a little more variety. In other words, you don’t spend all 48 minutes of FOY doing the exact same move over and over and over and over like you do on Yoga X (can you tell I still hate Yoga! LOL!)
So will I have candles and incense going? NO! Will I find my inner peace? NO (at least not doing yoga!). But I WILL do it anyways.
Look for my upcoming Round 4 hybrid, featuring yoga! I’ve had Round 1 (which was unnamed), Round 2 (“My Hybrid Workout“), Round 3 (“The Perfect Storm“), and now Round 4, which I will lovingly call “C-Squared: Constant Confusion“
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Notleb, try to stick it out for recovery week. You have Core Syn twice already and yoga twice. Make the most of it and just do your best and forget the rest. It is really challenging, that is why I think most people don't like it.
Coach, one clarifying question. Do you see a benefit in doing Core Syn instead of Yoga for fat burning purposes or was that substitution simply a personal preference on your part? Thanks.
Mike, you may see a little larger calorie burn. It will be easier to get a good burn. Yoga can really be a workout when you become experienced with the moves and routines. I would see it as mpre of a preference. Push hard and both would be worthwhile.
Coach, I'm in pretty good shape, but I am going though P90X for the first time (and I also have P90X2 in anticipation of finishing P90X). While I'm in good shape, I still want to rip my mid-section more. I did Yoga this morning, and I gotta be honest. I don't love it. So I've got a question. I just don't know if I can do it for 1.5 hours, and I'm not sure of the benefit when it comes to calorie burning. If yoga IS important then I thought that maybe I would sub X2 Yoga since it's 20+ minutes shorter. Or do you think that it would be more beneficial "fat burning" wise to sub in Core Synergistics for Yoga-X? I'd love your thoughts on both ideas. Thanks.
Mike, I have subbed Core Syn for yoga many times. Yoga and core work is important though. I would at least keep yoga in the recovery week and using the X2 yoga would work well.
Haven't you ever heard Tony Horton talk about how important yoga is?
Rick, I have and that is why I do it during my recovery weeks!
So glad I found this article. I subbed yoga for insanity the other day and felt guilty lol. Felt the same as you on yoga (glorified stretching)lol. Thanks for all your great articles!
Sorry I did not include this question in previous post, how about recovery week? Did you substitute those X Stretch /Yoga X with something else?
On recovery week you have to do the yoga LOL!
I am starting my first round of p90x on 3/12/12. Is it your current advice to switch all YogaX for Core Synergistics if you do not like yoga? When you did your first round, Rest on 7th day or Stretch X ? Thanks in advance.
Hey Ezbox, try the yoga first and see what you think. If you can't stand it, sub core syn for it. I did the x stretch on day 7 about half the time and the other half I just took a rest day.
Sub XStretch for Yoga is what I meant to say. Thanks again.
That's fine Chris if you prefer that. No worries!
Hi Coach. Would it be wrong to sub Yoga for XStretch OR would you rather see it subbed with one of the Cardio workouts? Thanks for your response.
Coach I am with you in regards to Yoga. Granted it is hard ...but I did not like it much. What do you think if I replaced my Yoga with Plyo or even Kenpo? I would do Yoga on my recovery week. Thanks.
Sure Saul, that's a good substitution!
I guess my only question is whether that would help me reach my goals faster.
Yes JJ, it would in my opinion since it is a more intense workout.
Hey Coach, Just read this article. I'm on week 6 of classic. I don't really have a problem with Yoga but if switching it out for Core Syn will burn more fat and add muscle then I will. Is that what you recommend, even having done classic for 6 weeks? Will I reach my goal faster? JJ
It's up to you JJ. If you like yoga, keep it in. If you want to switch, then by all means switch.
Hey Coach Wayne! I'm about to start a round of the X this upcoming Monday and had a quick question. I searched for a while on here to find the answer, but haven't come across it yet. With me starting on Monday, the yoga day will fall on Thursday. Since I work then, but have off on Saturday, do you see a problem with doing yoga on Saturday and Kenpo on Thursday? Thanks for your help as always!
Hey Dan, it's no problem to switch yoga and kenpo. Go for it!
Scratch that question. I just read where someone ask the same thing earlier. lol Kenny
Hey Coach, I am totally with you on the yoga article. I find that yoga is the most demotivating workout ever. I had been looking for substitution workouts for the yoga video due to a lower back injury I recieved from all of the bending and twisting. Thanks for the article. I am probably going to sub core synergistics for the yoga. What did you sub in for the yoga on recovery weeks? Thanks, Kenny
How did I miss out on the Fountain of Youth giveaway? I ordered my P90X ages ago through a BB coach. I'm with you coach! I really need something to sub for yoga.
I'm glad I'm not the only one. I hate yoga!!! Coach, could I sub turbo fire for yoga nights? I guess yoga is considered cardio... Though I consider it torture. Ha!
Sure Kirby! You can sub Turbo Fire for Yoga!
Hey Coach Wayne, If I take out Yoga and Kenpo, but keep plyometrics (though I think I would want to condition my knees which I had an injury on my right knee, and develop/increase my vertical jump), can I replace both of them with 55-1hour of cardio treadmill? However on my 4th week of phase 1, I will probably be doing 2 yogas. Thank you! Leroy N.
Yes Leroy, that's fine to sub the cardio work for Yoga and Kenpo if you prefer it.
Hello again coach, I never really hated the Yoga X DVD (except for the fact that it was ridiculously long) but I can see what you are saying about not getting a real workout from it. I'm in the second phase of P90X Doubles routine so I've already added Cardio X three times a week but I think I'll put the core synergistics in on Thursdays instead of the yoga from here on out. Thanks for the idea and motivation
Coach I hate yoga as well. I did it the other day and didn't even feel anything.. barley any sweat. So it's okay If i switch it with core synergistic?
Yes Andre, that's what I did.
I still don't understand the "90 minutes of yoga is too long for me" argument. I did Legs & Back w/ Abs/Core on Monday, and it was the same length as Yoga X lol. I discovered that with yoga, like most things, will give you what you put into it. For example, if you go in with a poor attitude and you just say "i hate it i hate it i hate it" then you will not get the benefits from yoga. However, if you do exactly what Tony says and does, and you go in with the right mindset, you will truly feel amazing afterwards. I just did Yoga X this morning. I like to do Yoga at least once a week bc the other 5 days i'm decimating my body with rough routines. To me the key is in the breathing. I'll tell you right now this morning when i was deep into the breath, and I did my stretches, I sweat more in the first 45 minutes than I do with most routines in p90x and p90x+. Again, it's all of what you put into it. That being said, I also switch Yoga X out with Patience "Hummingbird" Yoga, but I do not enjoy it as much. I recently have just purchased the FOY along with 3 other OoO's, so I will now have 3 choices to choose from lol.
Coach, I'm on week #7 of round #2 of P90X. Always have done YogaX, and have always hated it. After reading this, may switch it up and do Cardio X, and Insanity workout or run tonight now. I have Insanity, but have not done any of it yet. What disc would you rec?
Hey Tyler, if you've never done Insanity, try something like Pure Cardio first. It's hard! But the others are harder!!! LOL!
hey coach..I know you said you replaced yoga x with core synergistics but what about the recovery week.? did you do core 4 times.?
Hey Ryan, on Recovery week I mixed in Cardio X as a substitute for yoga (4 sessions of Core Syn would be too much LOL!)
Man, I felt this same way the first and second time I did the Yoga X, but now I cant wait for that workout!! I feel so good after, and unlike you, I sweat my ass off!! Must be more out of shape than you were at that point! I just did it today, and Im sore already! But hey, "Variety is the spice of life" so whatever works for you!
haha...do you think that switching yoga with core synergistics sped up your results and abs to pop up..? I was considering it because I too dislike yoga...would you recommend it.?
Hey Ryan, I think Core Syn is a tougher workout than yoga (higher HR, more calories burned, more core work). So I absolutely recommend it!
Oh I see. For me Yoga and X Stretch has helped me with the soreness and the stiffness but I think as I become more flexible, I don't need as much as stretching anymore. For example, I'm currently in my 2nd recovery week and today was X Stretch, but I decided to try out Ab Core Plus. It wasn't too difficult, so I followed it up with X Stretch. Half-way through I got really hungry so I just stopped in the middle of the X Stretch. Do you think this was a good idea? (I work out in the morning and I have a protein shake with flaxseed and other stuff 30 min before working out).
Sure Jason, that's fine. The X-Stretch is kind of a "rest" workout (which is why they say you can either stretch OR rest -- your choice). So there's nothing wrong with doing all, part, or none of the X-Stretch. Whatever you need based on how you are feeling!
hey Coach, does this mean you don't do X Stretch either?
Correct Jason! I do not do X Stretch. I stretch every day as part of my workouts, but I do not do a Stretch-Only day.
hey coach i posted a long post on the 1900 cal. page and then found this... pretty much answered my question so no need for a response to the other post. also in that post i referenced you as saying something that i dont think you said... if so im sorry about that. im new to team ripped so still getting used to navigating the site.
Hey Mike, I see you found my yoga post, but yes, I subbed core syn for a while, then extra cardio (in the form of plyo or Insanity Workout cardio) just because I could do yoga for an hour and barely burn any calories. I wanted to maximize my results and felt like yoga wasn’t doing much for me that I couldn’t get from stretching. I do yoga now, but I still don’t like it LOL!
I'm with you on this one Coach. Dumped Yoga a few weeks ago (after tweeking my back doing downward dog) and added in Core. Now I don't dread Tuesdays anymore. I finished my first 30 days and felt pretty good, but something really strange happened around day 35...my energy level spiked. I feel great and can keep up or even outpace the workouts. Pull ups still kind of suck, but I'll get there.
hey coach wayne, what would my results be like if i didn't do the recovery weeks, i just moved on the the next training block? are they really that important? i cant stand thinking that i could be getting better results if i wasn't doing an unneeded recovery week and lifting instead.
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Coach I'm finally on my first recovery week and I've been subbin yoga for core syng so I have never tried it before. Today I tried yoga and I hate it. I'll do it if I have to but could I sub yoga even on my recovery weeks?
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