tai chi or yoga or ... ?

[qsys]

I suppose everyone agrees that relaxation will improve anyone's free diving skills. If you feel relaxed, you'll perform better, for sure. Anyone experienced that (I guess). However, how do you 'induce' relaxation. I mean, thinking of 'I have to relax' surely doesn't work .
So I checked out the gym, and they have weekly classes yoga (asana, I think, it was pranayama untill decembre) and thai chi. What would benefit me the most? (Or should I take both?) I hardly know anything about yoga or tai chi, so any help in 'how to relax' would be fine, actually, but taking one of the classes (or both) will probably be a (good?) start?

 

[Apneaddict]

Pranayama is yogic breathing and well-practiced in freediving circles. You are lucky to have a nearby spot to learn / practice.

Take advantage.
You can use those breathing techniques anywhere and for the rest of your life easily to induce relaxation.

 

[qsys]

It's not pranayama anymore this year (or at least, this trimester). It might come back - as far as I understand, it's now more about asana, which is about positions (right? - This will probably include the breathing as well). I'll ask for it. Anyway, any kind of yoga should be fine? I'll start yoga next week . I might give thai chi a try later.
Thx!

 

[charlie.]

i'd go yoga as most yoga is breath based and the physical shapes are secondary where as thai chi is movement based and doesn't really focus on breathing. if you can find some where that does hatha yoga you'll be on to a real winner

 

[qsys]

Hey Charlie, thx for your reply. I asked the teacher and apparently it's some kind of hatha yoga, but focussing on the positions and not on breathing, due to lack of time in these kind of group classes. Anyway, I'll give it a try, and I might take private classes so I can focus on what's important for me.