Any yoga fans out there? While you might associate yoga with gentle and movement and meditation, it offers much more than relaxation.
The many benefits of regular yoga practice include:
Increased flexibility
Improved balance
Better posture
Stress relief
Lower blood pressure
Improved focus
Greater endurance
Improved strength
Let’s hone in on the latter for a moment. While it may not feel like it in the moment, yoga can improve muscle strength. This is what makes it such a great complement or supplement to a training session for all kinds of people. (I know firsthand how intimidating the weight room can feel at times.)
But back to the strength training element. Yoga is what we refer to as bodyweight exercise. This means you are supporting just the weight of your body when you do it. Consider the plank position, a key move in any flow. sequence. Your arms and your core hold up the weight of your body. Over time, this act strengthens your muscles.
Pretty cool, right? You might wonder if you can rely on a yoga practice solely to build strength. The answer depends on your goals. Strength training in different forms can meet a variety of needs. For example, if you’re not trying to build significant muscle mass but more concerned about overall health, stress relief, and meditation, yoga could be adequate. However, for those really interested in gains, yoga should be more of the side dish and not the main event, so to speak.
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