Achieving Wellness- The Power Of Combining Yoga And Exercise
Let’s dive into a really interesting question that many people would have wondered it is okay to do exercise and yoga together? Ever wondered if these two can coexist harmoniously in one’s normal fitness routine? The answer is yes you can absolutely do yoga and exercise together on the same day. The combination of the 2 can offer a comprehensive approach to boosting physical and mental illness. For beginners, it is suggested to get comfortable with one and slowly add the other one to the fitness regime.
YOGA – Nurturing the body-mind connection
Yoga is an ancient practice more focused on encompassing spirituality and mental harmony. Yoga might look extremely easy and simple to do but it isn’t and requires a lot of concentration, focus, and dedication. It involves a sequence of poses (asanas) designed to enhance flexibility, strength, and equilibrium.
Exercise- Building Physical Strength and Stamina
Exercise and gym workouts on the other hand are more focused towards cardiovascular workouts, weightlifting, and interval training. And are used to form a sort of resistance against muscles to increase strength and conditioning. Engaging in regular exercise routines helps to release endorphins, which are known as the “feel-good” hormones, contributing to reduced stress and increased positivity.
SYNERGY OF YOGA AND EXERCISE
Yoga and exercise are often seen as separate entities, but they have a close relationship. In the end, both practices aim to improve physical fitness and overall well-being of a person in slightly different ways. When combined thoughtfully can create a synergistic effect that addresses multiple dimensions of wellness.
Some of the benefits are as follows:-
1. Building Strength
Doing an exercise routine/gym workout can help to perform some complex yoga poses. Many yoga styles incorporate elements of cardio by incorporating faster-paced sequences or more intense poses. When strength is built in the upper body, it helps to maintain proper alignment and form in Yoga poses such as the Crow pose or Downward Dog pose.
2. Stress Reduction and Mental Clarity
Independently, both exercise and yoga help to alleviate stress. But when tied together they can create a potent stress-relief synergy. Yoga’s relaxation techniques when merged with exercise can provide a holistic approach to combating stress and enhancing mental clarity.
3. Improves breathing technique
Practicing Yoga will help to become more mindful of your breathing which is very important in strength training as it will help to improve the lifts and muscular endurance in quicker recovery. Some yoga breathing techniques such as Ujjayi breath or Kapalbhati can help to control your breath and stay focused during challenging exercises.
4. Improves flexibility
Most workouts can tend to put stress on muscles and joints, leading to tightness and reduced flexibility Since Yoga focuses on stretching and lengthening muscles, it improves flexibility and reduces muscle stiffness.
So, incorporating both yoga and exercise into the routine can offer a holistic approach to maintaining physical fitness while also nurturing your mind-body connection with numerous benefits.
USING YOGA AS A GYM/ EXERCISE WORKOUT
Merging yoga and exercise doesn’t mean long workouts. If you decide to do yoga before the workout it is important to use poses for active mobility and remember to hold a specific pose for only 6- 10 seconds otherwise it can tire your muscles
Some of the poses are –
- Crescent Lunge
- Forward folds
- Cobra pose
- Warrior Flow
We can conclude that leveraging both disciplines will empower individuals to foster a balanced physique and a serene mind. However, it’s important to listen to your body and find the right balance between the two. Be mindful of the physical and mental sensations each activity evokes. You can opt to alternate between days or seamlessly blend both within one workout session, tailoring your choices to align with your objectives and personal inclinations.
