To quit all exercise and only do yoga?

[britinnyc]

I have recently become a bit obsessed with yoga, it is a nice escape from life and I have been taking classes that really push me physically (hot power yoga type classes) as well as others that are more meditation/relaxation based. As you age I know it is supposed to be important to do cardio and weight bearing exercise too but I really hate these things now and would rather quit the gym and get an unlimited yoga membership as my Christmas present from DH. I guess I'm just not sure if it is good enough as my only exercise (I'd have to go a lot to get my value for money. I'm 45 and my body feels so much better the more yoga I do. I realize this is a rather privileged question but the yoga studio is expensive and I don't want to go all in if I am going to regret quitting the gym!

Yoga includes some weight bearing, but not sure if it’s good for bone density etc.

I personally think SOME cardio is a good idea. Have you checked what heartrate ‘zone’ you get into with your yoga? Probably not cardio.

If you don’t enjoy the gym, how about the odd brisk walk or jog, or pay as you go dance or aerobics class?

Then you could have the yoga membership and minimise financial costs of additional bits and bobs.

When I was a member of a fancy yoga studio I used to run for cardio. Free to do with a decent pair of trainers and sports bra, and I preferred being outside.

Power yoga is definately cardio!

I used to belong to a yoga club when I loved in London and I loved it. I went at least 4 times a week and I was strong, happy and healthy.

I really miss it now. It is so good for you.

OP - I feel exactly the same

I love the calm and peace I feel when doing yoga. I do one Zumba and one Pilates class once a week, but the rest of the time just yoga. However, I do intensive, challenging classes which require a lot of core strength and good balance.

I just started exercising about 6 weeks ago after a 6 year break. I started with hot yoga (like a hot vinyasa flow) and have got quite addicted. I wear a fitbit and I do go into my 'peak' zone for about 2 mins during the class, about 150bpm, with the rest of the class about 125bpm average (my resting bpm is about 65) I similarly hate running, swimming, spinning - anything cardio, but love yoga, it seems to be giving me a cardio workout despite that not being my focus and also do a functional strength class once a week (kettle bell squats, pull ups etc).
I'm starting a pilates equipment class too, will keep up my yoga (1x hot yoga and 1x vinyasa flow) per week and my functional strength class. I'm doing them on a movegb membership (£18.99 a week as the pilates one is the priciest level) as it works out much cheaper than several memberships.
I'm chuffed as 6 weeks ago I was incredibly lazy!

That all sounds great!

This is a typical 45 min hot vinyasa flow class for me

Trying again...