Fun fact: as a baby, my parents would often find me sleeping in a child’s pose. They called it the frog (lol). The bendiness stayed with me through many years of competitive gymnastics, which is really where I think I gained a love for stretching. That’s right, this week we’re talking about yoga. But there is so much more depth to yoga than the stretching, so let’s swan dive in.
First off, I understand yoga is an extremely broad topic to tackle in a five minute blog post. There are so many different styles, all with unique differences that set them apart from one another: Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Hatha, Bikram… and the list goes on. Admittedly I am not an all-knowing yoga guru (pretty close though), but I have explored several of these styles throughout my fitness journey. For the purposes of my analysis, I am going to look at the practice of yoga as a whole based on the commonalities between the different styles. (If you want a brief overview of the 8 most common styles, check out this guide.)
So why is yoga critical to your fitness routine? The most obvious reason to me is the deep stretching that our muscles crave after intense exercise. Even if you take your time stretching post-workout, our bodies need more than those 5-10 minutes to fully recover from that strain we put on them. Working yoga into your routine once or twice a week can do you wonders. You will not only reduce soreness and tightness, but you may notice your stress levels decreasing as well. It’s not only a detox for the body, but for the brain as well.
Like I said before though, yoga is not all stretching (in the best way possible). Yoga builds strength and is fantastic for stability. If you’re in the mood for a little more sweat and muscle building, opt for an Ashtanga or a Vinyasa or Power Yoga class. You won’t miss out on the deep stretching, you’ll just be adding a little extra spice. Additionally, this practice increases your mind-body connection and awareness. The more in-tune you are with your body, the more you will be able to notice when something feels off or imbalances you may need to work on.
There really aren’t many downsides to practicing yoga. Although some of the styles have their own controversies associated with them (which you can Google if curiosity gets the best of you), there are so many different offerings there’s bound to be one that works for you. The main con is that most studios are very expensive. And let’s be honest, if your goal is to lose weight or work on those vanity muscles, yoga isn’t exactly a quick fix (but really there is no such thing). And if you’ve never taken a class before, you may look at some of the mainstream yoga poses and think “eagle leg headstands aren’t really my thing.”
The beauty of yoga is that you don’t need much (or any) equipment and you can do it anywhere, that means your living room too! YouTube has enough free yoga videos to keep you moving for years. If you can’t find the motivation to be a YouTube yogi, think about investing in a small class pack or once a week yoga studio membership. Having a professional help you with those first few sessions may give you the courage and push you need to continue on your own, if you decide to discontinue that membership. Even if you don’t have a lot of time, commit to at least 30 minutes of yoga or deep stretching a week and notice the difference it makes on both your fitness goals the non-fitness aspects of your life. #GetFitStayFit
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