| Yoga asanas is the equivalent of Yoga postures in the | | | | young as your spine is flexible". |
| English language. You can refer to them as postures | | | | In order for you to practice Yoga, you do not |
| because they are very well and systematically | | | | necessarily have to abandon all other forms of |
| designed to suit every individual in their quest for a | | | | exercise. Although Yoga is a completely different |
| healthy life. I try not refer to Yoga postures as | | | | practice, it can compliment all other forms of exercise |
| exercises because they are some differences | | | | and sports. Often the integration of Yogic static |
| amongst the two. Exercises are more vigorous, as it | | | | stretching with other types of exercises, greatly aids in |
| makes you tired, and more importantly it burns out | | | | the minimizing of any or all potential injuries and |
| your energy. Yoga on the other hand, seeks to | | | | ailments that can occur from the practice of such |
| conserve energy. Therefore the primary difference | | | | exercises over a prolonged period. Yogic stretching |
| between the two would be: | | | | can provide much of the needed relief to tight muscles |
| - Yoga conserves energy | | | | and joints, and assist in flexibility. Through the practice |
| - Exercise dissipates energy | | | | of even the easy and gentle Sun Salutation sequence, |
| Most types of exercises, be it aerobics, cardio | | | | a person can increase their blood circulation, release |
| workouts or resistance training, requires your body to | | | | stress, strengthen and improve flexibility of the body, |
| make fast forceful movements, through repeated | | | | whilst reaping the cardio benefit. The practice of Yoga |
| actions. This type of exercise over a prolonged period | | | | can immensely improve the performance of any other |
| of time can lead to muscle tension and fatigue. The | | | | exercise. |
| practice of Yoga on the other hand, involves | | | | As you can see, there are numerous benefits that you |
| movements that promote stability and energy, to not | | | | may gain through the practice of Yoga. Yoga has |
| only the physical body, but also the senses, the mind | | | | been proven to be helpful to pregnant women, athletes |
| and the consciousness. | | | | recovering from sports injuries, and by body builders |
| The purpose of a workout is to raise your heart rate | | | | seeking to improve muscle tone and flexibility resulting |
| into your "target zone" for cardiovascular benefits. On | | | | from muscle stiffness at the gym. Each Yoga asana |
| the other hand, after performing each Yoga posture | | | | that you perform is meant to touch, massage and |
| you relax to normalize heart rate and respiration; | | | | coax a particular organ or system in the body to |
| before continuing to the next posture. The target of | | | | function efficiently. |
| Yoga is to maintain flexibility of the spine. "You are as | | | | |