| So which one do you think is better? | | | | increasing flexibility, preventing muscle soreness; faster |
| Flexibility can be well defined as the ability of the joints | | | | recovery of muscles etc. Yoga also helps in loosening |
| or body parts to move around a full range of motion. | | | | the tight muscles. The stiff hamstrings can also be |
| Flexibility plays an important role in our lives as we | | | | released through practice of yoga. But, for the right |
| require it in our daily activities like bending etc. It helps in | | | | practice of yoga and to enjoy the excellent benefits of |
| keeping our muscles mobile. Flexibility however | | | | yoga poses that are said to unite the bodily soul to the |
| decreases with age and so it is very important to | | | | cosmic soul of the universe, it is essential to have a |
| include flexibility exercises in your daily workout | | | | flexible body. The basic yoga poses intend to increase |
| program. It should be well understood that flexibility and | | | | the flexibility of the body so that it is capable of |
| stretching are two different things. Stretching is used to | | | | performing the more complicated poses with hoards |
| improve flexibility and only a flexible body can stretch | | | | of benefits. |
| to great extents. | | | | Accumulation of lactic acid can contribute to muscular |
| Flexibility can be obtained by ways like flexibility | | | | fatigue, but yogic stretching can help release of lactic |
| exercises or yoga stretching exercises. Exercises like | | | | acid from the muscle cells into the bloodstream so that |
| stretching help in achieving flexibility, but most of the | | | | the muscular contraction is not hindered. |
| exercises as we all know include jerks and rapid | | | | Yoga involves the movement of the entire body and |
| movements which can sometimes cause tension, | | | | when this happens a sense of harmony and balance is |
| fatigue and damage to the tissues, joints etc. the | | | | seen. So the opposing muscles are also trained |
| chances of muscle soreness and injuries is also more. | | | | together and so flexibility is obtained faster as these |
| Stretching exercises do not contain any jerky | | | | opposing muscles do not work against each other but |
| movements but consist of very gradual movements. | | | | work with each other. |
| Though almost any type of exercise works towards | | | | Few flexibility exercises of yoga may include the |
| increasing flexibility but, for most forms the increase in | | | | following:o Forward/ backward bendingo Side |
| flexibility is too nominal to be considered. Yoga | | | | bendingo Parvottasanao Cobra postureo |
| stretching is the most effective in increasing flexibility of | | | | Sasankasanao Vajrasana |
| the body. Also most of the exercises work only on the | | | | There are a variety of yogasanas for improving |
| physical level whereas yoga stretching is something, | | | | flexibility. The intensity of the asanas should be |
| which works on both physical as well as mental level. | | | | increased with time and practice and not at once. So |
| In yoga stretching the brain and body, work together | | | | include yoga as a regular part of your workout |
| and hence there is a balance of energy. Yoga also | | | | program and be flexible, disease resistant and healthy. |
| focuses on improving lung capacity, toning muscles, | | | | |