Raw Athletes

[cocomamba]

I practice a pretty intense form of yoga called Ashtanga which is an hour and a half every day of arm balances, deep stretches, core work and deep back bends. I've always felt much more energized on raw but I sweat and burn a lot of calories when I practice so I was wondering if any of you that are athletes that have been thriving on raw can give me some tips on what are the best foods to consume for recovery. Thanks!

[PansyLo]

^ That sounds like pretty interesting yoga. Do you just practice it by yourself in the morning? Where did you learn about it?

I can't help much with knowledge on raw athletes or diets for more active people. I'm lucky if I even go running that often these days, I have never considered myself athletic even when I was at the gym 6 days a week. There's a section on the forum called "Exercise and Fitness While Raw" which should have more answers. :)

I'd be really interested in your yoga though. Now that I'm eating raw I need to find a good way to get into shape. I'm particularly interested in core work, flexibility, deep stretching etc as that's what made me feel really good last time I was a gym bunny.

If I'm looking after my body with my diet I need to start using it and getting it feeling good in other ways.

[cocomamba]

Hey PansyLo, thanks for your reply. Ashtanga means eight limbs. The eight limbs are basically ways in which to live a wholesome life. One of those ways is through asana which is posture which is the type of Yoga that we are familiar with in the west. The Ashtanga Yoga System is made up of 6 series. Each series is about an hour and a half and takes years to complete. Each pose has a coinciding breath and each prepares you for the next. You can start ashtanga even if you've never even done yoga before as long as you go to a class. The teacher will walk you through each pose and will only have you go on to a few poses each day until you are ready to move on to the next pose. Eventually you are practicing the entire series on your own. There is no music, just the rhythm of your breath. Mysore style is when each student comes into the classroom at any time between a set 2 hour interval and begins their practice. It is self paced, not led. The teacher comes around and gives assists to help you get into a pose or go deeper. You practice each series until you go through all the transitions and have proper breathing before you move on to the next series. Again, this could take years just for the first series. It is truly a lifetime practice. You should definitely try it! I am very fortunate because my partner and I live right next to the studio so all I have to do is roll out of bed and go in there to practice. Sometimes I do practice on my own but most of the time I'm at the studio. Heres a link to kind of give you an idea of what ashtanga is.

http://youtu.be/FXCy4wbkn9w

[The Sproutarian (Mr Raw)]

Very interesting stuff. Makes me wish l had 30 hours in the day instead of 24.

l'm no exercise expert, but folks like Dan the Man say wheatgrass is an excellent recovery food after an intense workout. lt makes so much sense too. Lots of carbs and predigested protein in abundance that is easy to absorb. Other sprouts would be excellent too. The Hippocrates people also teach people to do weightlifting for a minimum of 50 minutes three times a week and aerobics for a minimum of 35 minutes five times a week, and they always teach a sproutarian lifestyle as the ideal diet. lt makes sense as sprouts are the complete and ultimate food. They also told me to eat sprouted seeds (sesame/sunflower) or sprouted nuts as a cold pressed paste after a workout, so maybe this is the best thing for your yoga.

[PansyLo]

Heres a link to kind of give you an idea of what ashtanga is.

http://youtu.be/FXCy4wbkn9w

That looks incredible! Must be very liberating on your body.

I used to do yoga a couple of times a week, not nearly as hard core. I couldn't even dream of being able to do half that stuff. My body feels creaky, stiff and heavy though, not at all how it should feel for a 21 year old.

I really want to get into some really heavy yoga and start ballet again. I think I'd be an embarrassment at a class like that though. I maybe just need to start doing any kind of yoga and then practicing at home.

Definitely doing more research into that as something to work towards if I can find a studio near by.

[cocomamba]

Its an awesome practice but it takes years to get to the place that the lady in the video is at. I am definitely not there yet and there are people who come into the class who have never even done yoga! You would not be an embarrassment! You should definitely try it out. It opens and strengthens your body very quickly, youd be surprised. If you are intimidated by this style thats ok. I was for a long time so I just practiced vinyasa flow classes but always dreamt of ashtanga. Its awesome to combine wonderful exercise to an amazing raw food diet lifestyle!

[tolondontoparis]

I want to be as flexible as that! Oh my gosh! And my boyfriend would like it as well...hahaha!

[PansyLo]

It looks incredible. I may never be able to do some of those things but the style in general just looks great.

I'm really not into sports, I can't run and I'm not in the slightest bit athletic but there are so many obvious benefits to changing my attitude to exercise. I'm interested in things that aren't so typical fitness (I will never enjoy spending hours at a gym on machines or playing sports).

I'm interested in doing something that challenges my body and gets me moving it in new ways especially in conjunction with raw food.

Thanks for sharing anyway! I'm definitely looking into it for the future.

[Choose2BWell]

I practice a pretty intense form of yoga called Ashtanga which is an hour and a half every day of arm balances, deep stretches, core work and deep back bends. I've always felt much more energized on raw but I sweat and burn a lot of calories when I practice so I was wondering if any of you that are athletes that have been thriving on raw can give me some tips on what are the best foods to consume for recovery. Thanks!

Good evening

Read Thrive, by Brendan Brazier, it's not 100% raw, but it helps with recovery, which is very important. Enjoy the journey.

[Bihaku]

I am taking up strength training, but since I am new at it I can't say what I will be like it on Raw yet.