I spotted a friend of mine at the local YMCA. He asked why I used the Y and didn’t just join the gym. I explained to him that I practice Yoga and occasional calisthenics at home for my exercises and really didn’t feel the need for a gym membership. His response was predictable: “Yoga…isn’t that just stretching?”
Image: courtesy of knife18 on SXC
I smirked at the familiarity of the question and proceeded to explain to him the theme of this article. As I told him and for those who may not know otherwise: No, Yoga is much more than just stretching or moving into supposedly awkward looking poses and positions.
It’s a combination of stretching, breathing exercises, meditation and perhaps the most unnoted branch of the practice: adherence to a proper diet.
The word yoga (from the Sanskrit word yuj) means to yoke or bind and is often interpreted as a “union” or a method of discipline. Its highest goal is the uniting of a person with God or the universe “in one breath”. Moreover, yoga also aspires to set the spirit free, as the mind and spirit are equally involved in its practice.
Yoga is a systematic and scientifically proven path to attaining fitness. With its core warm-up exercises titled the Sun Salutations (which are somewhat similar to the callisthenic exercises known as “burpees”), the inversion poses, forward and backward bending poses, balancing exercises for the arms and building focus, the average practitioner will attest to the fact that for achieving physical fitness, Yoga can stand its own.
Think Yoga can’t help with building strength? Think again. Heck, I challenge the most skilled bodybuilder to hold the simple yet powerful Peacock Pose for 90 seconds straight. Bet you they’d crash half-way in its execution-if they survive that far.
Yoga also offers specific breathing exercises which are marvelous for patients with respiratory disorders and even singers and public speakers. Furthermore, with its unique relaxation pose that is frequently done during a series of yoga poses, yoga offers a systematic means of deeply relaxing the entire body that perhaps no other exercise can. Additionally, several of the poses give a deep body massage that is not unlike the ones received in high-end salons.
With countless books, DVDs, videos and classes being offered for all ages, levels of fitness and experience, I suggest you give yoga a try and determine for yourself what it can do.
One thing I promise you is this, you’ll walk out of your class and nod in agreement that yoga is indeed “way more than just stretching.” It is the ultimate exercise!
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Francesca De Souza
Yoga-Tips.Teauta.com
