How to Combine the Yoga Lifestyle with Gym Discipline
People may think combining yoga and gym is unnecessary, because they often think only one type of exercise is enough. But that is not actually the case. Combining these two types of exercising can be very beneficial. For example, if you do yoga exercises for muscle flexibility and endurance, your muscles will be well-prepared for lifting weights at the gym, which will allow you to push yourself further.
Here are some benefits of combining yoga and weight training.
Training Your Body And Mind
Yoga is not only an exercise for the body, it’s also a set of physical, mental, and spiritual practices, which enhance your body, mind and soul. The goal is to put these three aspects in balance in order to live a more fulfilling life. Every movement and posture has its physical and spiritual purpose. This is why spending some time meditating before you go the gym will help you direct your energy to exercise during the training.
There are many benefits of working out regularly. It improves your self-confidence, reduces a level of stress, eliminates anxiety, improves your memory, etc. These benefits can be enhanced by practicing yoga, because it encourages you to dig deep into your soul through the transcendental experience of exercise and meditation.
Flexibility And Strength
In order to empower your body, you have to build its flexibility. Yoga supports the development of your body and provides you with better stability and support. It prepares muscles for weightlifting and prevents injuries that might take you out of any type of training for weeks.
Yoga stretching exercises make your muscle tissue more elastic, and they prepare your joints for the pressure they will be exposed to during the training at the gym. Practicing yoga will also help you gain better control of your moves. When it comes to any type of exercising, it’s extremely important to perform the exercises correctly. That’s the only way to activate the right muscles.
The Economic Benefits
Everyone who intends to visit the gym regularly has to be well-equipped for the workouts. So, be sure to pick up the right gear. If you’re looking for comfortable and durable equipment, browsing a collection of Adidas shoes, shorts, shirts and other accessories is a good place to start.
On the other hand, the only additional equipment necessary for yoga is a good mat. You can use the same clothes for both types of training sessions, the only difference being that you will practice yoga barefoot. So, you can practice both types of exercises with a low budget, and still get great results.
Rest Is Important
In order to improve your body and mind, you have to make sure you are building up every muscle in your body. To make that possible, you have to balance between appropriate exercises and rest. Create a schedule for your yoga and gym sessions, to make sure to activate a different muscle group during each training session.
Every muscle needs at least 48 hours to recover from the effort, so make sure your muscles get enough rest. If you don’t follow that schedule, your muscle tissue will not recover fully for the next session. Your muscle fibers will not be able to perform as well as they usually can, and you will increase the risk of injury.
Breathing
It’s important to learn how to control your breathing if you want to get the most out of your workouts. For example, you have to breathe in when you lower, and breathe out when you lift the weight. This way, you will ensure your body has enough oxygen to take the effort.
Yoga is a great way to learn proper breathing techniques. Ujjayi breathing is a technique that enables you to get rid of negativities, both physical and emotional. Whenever you’re feeling stressed, or out of balance, close your eyes, focus and try this technique. After using this method for some time, you’ll see how it will improve your overall breathing efficiency in every type of physical activity you do.