Is yoga too slow for me? Should I join a yoga class? Should I do yoga before or after workout? These are just a few of the numerous questions people are always asking their fitness instructors and trainers. Many people have lived with the notion that yoga is just about stretching, breathing, and relaxation but the truth is that there is a lot more to it.
Do Yoga Before or After Workout?
What Exactly is Yoga?
According to yogis, the word “yoga” means “to yoke,” and it translates to “unity of the mind, body, and soul.” By definition, yoga us a comprehensive form of exercise which promotes optimal mental focus and generates balanced energy, which is crucial to the functioning of the body.
What are The Benefits of Yoga?
After many years of being a taboo, yoga has finally hit the mainstream. It has at last broken free from its bohemian stigma, which is evident from the yoga studios that are mushrooming in almost every coffee shop and gym. So why the hype? The truth is that the benefits of yoga are almost infinite but and here are the few you can reap from regular yoga practice:
1. Holistic Fitness
The modern-day gyms are packed with people of all sizes trying to work their bodies as hard as possible to achieve a perfect body. However, real body health is achieved by not only being physically fit but also emotionally and mentally balanced, and this is where yoga comes in.
The postures, meditation, and breathing techniques are a comprehensive, holistic fitness package which makes yoga a workout ideal not only for the body but also the mind and emotions.
2. Improved Immunity
Our spirit, mind, and body are inextricably connected, implying that any imbalance in your body has an effect on your mind and can even manifest as an ailment.
Yoga poses help massage the body’s internal organs and increases circulation which detoxifies the body. Also, the meditation and breathing techniques help release stress and boost immunity.
3. Better Posture and Flexibility
Although it’s pretty obvious, it is equally essential. Regular yoga practice will automatically leave you with a flexible, robust and supple body. Besides, practicing yoga regularly tones and stretches the muscles and aids in improving posture.
Can You Do Yoga Before or After A Workout?
Yoga is an excellent complement to your fitness regime, even if it includes other exercises. What’s even more enticing is that there are benefits you accrue from including yoga in your fitness plans irrespective of whatever workouts you are currently doing.
Many people ask, can you do yoga before or after a workout? The answer is YES.
Yoga Before A Workout
While this may sound a bit off, yoga can have excellent benefits when done before a workout and can go a long way in supporting your physical training program and here is why:
1. It Warms Up The Body
Individuals who have been into rigorous physical training can attest to the importance of warming up your body before a workout session. Although yoga before a workout seems like a burden, it certainly pays off.
To begin with, yoga involves lots of stretching which wrings out the body tissues and breaks up any adhesions, thus preparing your body for any kind of training. Moreover, some yoga poses incorporate full body rotations which increase your body’s flexibility, reduce the risk of muscle cramp or spasm during heavy lifting or weight training.
2. Helps Increase Stamina
Before you can head out to the gym, it is advisable to perform yoga and in this case, the warrior pose. This yoga pose is an excellent pre-workout activity that not only helps increase your body stamina but also releases stress in your shoulders.
Yoga After A Workout
Those who cherish yoga can confirm that some styles of yoga are workouts in themselves and can be too much for the body after a session of rigorous training. However, there are some athletic styles of yoga that can be excellent post-workout utilities and this is what they can do for you:
1. Perfect for Cool Down
Yoga is most beneficial after a workout because it is excellent to cool down your body. Doing yoga after a workout will stretch the body muscles you just trained and thus help reduce soreness and speed up the healing of the worn out tissues.
2. Increases Oxygen Supply
Getting enough oxygen to the body tissues and muscles is just as crucial after a workout as before. In this case, the Shoulder stand style is extremely helpful because it opens up your chest and increases oxygen supply to the lungs. As a result, this will help your muscles recover and grow during rest time.
Conclusion
Although regular yoga practice aids in developing the mind and body and therefore bringing lots of health benefits, it is not a substitute for medicine. Additionally, it’s essential to practice and learn yoga under the supervision of a trained instructor. If you’re still hesitant about doing yoga, here are some of its benefits:
- Better body flexibility and posture
- Improved immunity
- Holistic fitness
So what are you waiting for? Integrate yoga into your daily fitness routine and you will not only reap the benefits of this practice but also achieve your fitness goals faster.
This post is sponsored by TheTeeHive
