| It's amusing to me that while yoga is becoming | | | | that when you hold a Warrior pose for 5 to 10 breaths, |
| increasing popular, even mainstream, the perception of | | | | and the instructor reminds you to bring your front thigh |
| it as a serene practice of stretching and chanting "Om" | | | | parallel with the ground, your leg muscles are getting a |
| persists. Sure there is a level of spirituality to yoga, and | | | | work out and it is a challenge to maintain a sense of |
| parts of the practice are very relaxing, but it can also | | | | peace. Yoga exercise is not for the faint of heart. |
| be hard work. Yoga exercise is exercise. | | | | Still, I can't tell you how often I hear comments from |
| You only have to look at the the toned physiques of | | | | friends, family, and fitness professionals that indicate |
| celebrity yogis like Jennifer Aniston, Madonna, and | | | | yoga is just good for a nice stretch. The kinds of |
| Sting to see that the physical benefits of regular yoga | | | | comments I hear most often center around yoga not |
| exercise can be substantial. Do people think that the | | | | providing the benefits of a cariovascular or |
| poses shown on the cover of Yoga Journal can be | | | | weight-bearing workout. I beg to differ. Yoga exercise, |
| achieved through peaceful contemplation alone, with no | | | | in almost any intermediate or advanced class, or even |
| physical effort at all? I don't see how or why but many | | | | a beginners class that includes Sun Salutations and a |
| people still don't see yoga as exercise. | | | | series of the standing postures, is going to provide a |
| There are many types of yoga exercise and many | | | | cardio workout. |
| levels of classes. Admittedly, there are Gentle Yoga | | | | The breathing exercises alone can increase the heart |
| and Restorative Yoga classes that keep the practice | | | | rate of a fairly sedentary person, and coupled with the |
| on the light side with limited exertion and an emphasis | | | | challenging standing postures and flows even a fit |
| on stretches and relaxation. At the opposite end of the | | | | person will find their heart rate increasing and their |
| spectrum though are Ashtanga, Hot Yoga, and other | | | | breathing becoming labored. As far as weight bearing |
| advanced classes that can offer a good workout to | | | | exercise is concerned, yoga fits that description as |
| people of any fitness level. | | | | well, but instead of lead weights and barbells, yoga |
| From personal experience I can tell you that some of | | | | uses the weight of your own body. Downward Facing |
| my most intense feats of physical exertion, some of | | | | Dog pose requires that the arms bear half the weight |
| the sweatiest moments in my life, have been on a | | | | of the body as you balance in a triangle shape with |
| yoga mat. A yoga practice may require flexibility, but it | | | | your hands and feet providing the base and your hips |
| also requires strength. You only have to hold a plank or | | | | being the point. Single leg balances like tree pose and |
| a warrior pose for a minute or two to realize that. | | | | Warrior 3 strengthen the standing leg, which is carrying |
| Think about it. Plank pose can also be called | | | | more than its usual share of body weight. |
| top-of-a-push-up pose it is a great upper body and | | | | I'm not trying to convince everyone that yoga is the |
| core strengthener. And the Warrior 1 and 2 poses are | | | | only or ultimate form of exercise, but I do recommend |
| deep lunges with different arm postures. I assure you | | | | that everyone try it. |