Question:
i was curious if anyone had noticed that yoga was toning their body. i have tried weight training in the past but it always makes me too bulky. however, i'm just not sure if yoga will be enough to really get me in shape (i'm a new comer). any success stories are welcome
Answer:
As a personal trainer I can tell you that yoga is a wonderful complement to your fitness regimen. However, IMO you'd have to be doing several different styles consistently if you expect yoga to be your sole physical outlet. Ashtanga or power yoga probably requires the most physical exertion, but even then after 8-12 weeks of going you'll likely notice that the physical benefits have plateaued, meaning you won't continue to see improvements unless you change things up.
You mentioned that you run, which is great for the cardiopulmunary system and a fine workout for the lower body. Yoga can help with strength training for the upper body and core (abs/low back), but I suspect you'll find you need more to get a good workout. Yoga is, of course, awesome work for improving flexibility and balance, and serves to make one more aware of the body as a whole.
Just my two cents.
