OP - unity woods is a solid yoga studio and they offer structured programs. you can sign up, attend the same
class/teacher each week for a day/time. the teachers build a semester like program, adding skills from week to week.

tight hip flexors causes majority of knee/back ailments especially if you sit all day at work. lengthen those muscles to keep everything running. Older you get more attention to them.

PP--Amir at Sun and Moon had a bad back and his doctor's wanted to do surgery but he avoided it through yoga, and now he is a teacher/owner. He gets it. Try his Level 1 class!

Anonymous wrote:thanks everyone. Regarding yoga - how often do you have to do it to get the benefits? Also is there a place to go where they do a truly good job of teaching a newbie? I have a bad back, and I worry that improper technique will make it worse. I work in Georgetown and live in Falls Church.

Giving up running sounds awful. I really love my cardio. Nothing else feels like a decent workout.

I like Sun and Moon Yoga studio. Most of what they do is Hatha. First class is free, so no risk to try it. http://sunandmoonstudio.com/Sched2013fall.shtml

I do yoga once a week in combination with other things. I do medium level classes because I enjoy the level of relaxation they bring. If you push it during the week doing lots of hard stuff it really is a delicious feeling to bliss out to deeply stretched muscles, eye pillows and peaceful thoughts. I think of it as a kind of dessert for my body.

Anonymous wrote:thanks everyone. Regarding yoga - how often do you have to do it to get the benefits? Also is there a place to go where they do a truly good job of teaching a newbie? I have a bad back, and I worry that improper technique will make it worse. I work in Georgetown and live in Falls Church.

Giving up running sounds awful. I really love my cardio. Nothing else feels like a decent workout.

My very first yoga class was an advanced intermediate one. The key is,don't push your body. Do only what feel comfortable and no more.

thanks everyone. Regarding yoga - how often do you have to do it to get the benefits? Also is there a place to go where they do a truly good job of teaching a newbie? I have a bad back, and I worry that improper technique will make it worse. I work in Georgetown and live in Falls Church.

Giving up running sounds awful. I really love my cardio. Nothing else feels like a decent workout.

Are you wearing the right shoes? You might want to see a podiatrist. I'm 51 and run quite a bit. I used to have knee issues but then i got orthotics and I've been fine.

Lots of sex and weight training. I also avoid cardio like the plague.

Stop running. Do Yoga. I have ridiculous abs. Toned arms. A resting heart rate of below 50. All I do is Yoga -- various forms, but only that. Not jarring to your joints.

I eat a tablespoon of turmeric every day. It has wonderful anti-inflammatory properties amongst other benefits. I workout 6 or 7 days a week and although I've lost about 120 lbs I'm still about 20-30 pounds over weight. No injuries. Love this spice!

Joint vitamins don't do anything, but if you have a Vit D deficiency it can show up as stiff joints. Also make sure you don't have a food intolerance. Cherries help with inflammation.

Maybe run a bit less? Hard on the knees.

Yoga. I feel like yoga is exercise for my joints and with regular practice I will never need a hip (or whatever) replacement. Swimming and spinning are also good to get exercise but give your joints a break.

I use a foam roller every night, do corrective exercises (google them) and do yoga. If I don't do these 3 things my IT band gets out of wack and I experience back and knee pain (I'm 41). I hike, bike, lift weights, ski, and dance and don't want to give them up so I'm pretty good about self-care. GL

I'm in the best shape I've been in since way before kids - weigh 140 (5'7) and I work out nearly every day, either personal trainer at a gym, tennis, running, or the gym on my own.

However, my 39 year old body is starting to ache and hurt. My knees hurt after running 2.5/3 miles. My back is giving me trouble. I just FEEL all this in my joints more than I used to. I want to keep up the tennis and running and skiing this winter.

Other than wearing good shoes and changing them frequently, are there other things you have done to help protect your joints and have made you feel better? I see joint relief vitamins -- do those actually do anything?