Everywhere you turn, it seems like a new yoga studio is opening up. It seems as though people who would never normally take an interest in yoga are willing to learn more about the practice do its immense popularity. With toned bodies wearing expensive brand-name yoga gear, yoga has become big business in the Westernised fitness world. But when exercise is viewed by many as an activity that gets the heart racing and sweat dripping, can this ancient practice be considered exercise?
Existing for more than 5000 years and being derived from the Vedic tradition of India, yoga is an ancient system of philosophies, principles and practices. Meaning “to join”, yoga is the union of body, mind and spirit, and cultivates health and wellbeing through the regular practice of a range of techniques including postures (asanas), breathing exercises, breath awareness, relaxation, concentration, self-injury and mediation. Traditionally, the practice of asanas was used to develop discipline and the ability to concentrate so one could meditate, but today many of us primarily practice the postures to maintain and improve flexibility, develop strength and endurance, keep fit and reduce stress.
When performed regularly, yoga poses promote strength, endurance and flexibility, all of which are components of physical fitness. Whether you choose to sweat through a Bikram class, hang upside down in aerial yoga, or accelerate through a class of power yoga, there are plenty of toned bodies striking the pose of physical fitness. It’s important not to confuse physical fitness with cardiovascular fitness though – even yoga styles that elevate the heart rate like Bikram and power yoga won’t boost your heart and lung function in the same way jogging, swimming and cycling does. If these are the type of exercises that you do enjoy then you must remember to not over do it. Don’t hurt yourself trying to train your body and if you do manage to injure yourself then you should look at getting physiotherapy. Why not check out someone like physiotherapist Ealing if you do happen to accidentally injure yourself.
Just because yoga does offer you an aerobic component however, doesn’t mean it isn’t a form of exercise. In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine defines yoga as a flexibility exercise that should be included twice a week to help maintain the range of motion at a joint. Yoga may enhance postural stability and balance, particularly when combined with resistance exercise, and has also been shown to assist with lower back pain and improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Experiencing back pain can be a lot for anyone to deal with, especially if this affects daily life. Whether managing these pains means checking out sites like https://www.budexpressnow.ca to try alternative products like violator kush strain, visiting a chiropractor or doing daily exercises, these are just a few ways that people can help manage the symptoms of back pain. As well as this, yoga could be an option.
But there is more to yoga than just physical benefits – it also exercises the mind.
An important component of yoga is pranayama or the conscious control and regulation of breath. Pranayama controls the energy (known as prana) in us in order to restore and maintain health, and it goes hand-in-hand with postures. The postures of yoga should be performed with awareness, focusing on both the breath and sensations in the body, leading to greater mindfulness and mental relaxation. In fact, regular yoga promotes compassion and a greater self-awareness and self-control, while also cultivating a sense of calmness and wellbeing. While more research is needed, studies show yoga may be an effective way to manage and reduce stress, anxiety and depression, highlighting the positive benefits for the mind.
While there is no doubt yoga can be classified as exercise, it’s important to remember at its core, yoga is a practice of mindfulness, which if practiced regularly can have a profound effect on other areas of your life.
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