Muscle Fitness – Can Yoga Make You Stronger?Written by Della Menechella
Many people wonder if yoga can improve their muscle fitness. They recognize that yoga can help reduce stress and increase flexibility, but when it comes to increasing muscle fitness, they think it might be a little too 'weak' to do job. The fact is that yoga can definitely make you stronger.A study was conducted at University of California at Davis. Ten college 'coach potatoes' adopted a yoga routine for eight weeks. Each week, they attended from two to four classes during which they spent 10 minutes on breath control, 15 minutes of warm up exercises, 50 minutes doing yoga asanas, and then 10 minutes of relaxation/mediation. At end of eight-week period, researchers measured students' fitness and discovered that their muscular strength had increased by up to 31%, their muscular endurance improved by 57%, their flexibility increased by 188%, and their cardio respiratory fitness improved by 7%. These results are pretty amazing when you consider that study was only conducted for eight weeks. How can something that seems so benign have such a major impact on muscle fitness? Muscle Strength – Unlike traditional weight building exercises, in yoga your body provides resistance. While you are not likely going to produce bulked up muscles of some weight lifters, you will certainly increase your muscle strength. Many poses in yoga are done very slowly or you stay in posture for several breaths. It is much more challenging to your muscles to hold a pose or do it slowly than it is to allow momentum to move you through an action. I have been working out with weights for many years so my muscles are used to being strengthened. Yet, I have practiced certain yoga routines during which my muscles screamed for mercy and I actually had to get out of pose and then resume it because my muscles were so challenged. I don't often experience this during weight training sessions.
| | The History of YogaWritten by Della Menechella
The history of yoga is long and steeped in tradition. Contrary to what some people may believe, yoga was not developed as newest way to slim down so they could fit into a smaller pants size. The history of yoga goes back 5,000 years. It originated in India, and first time word yoga was found in written form was in Rig Vada, one of sacred texts used by Vedic priests. Yoga is a means of achieving spiritual enlightenment. Originally, yoga techniques were passed down from teacher to student through word of mouth. These techniques had never been written down until Indian sage Patanjali wrote down a systematic method of yoga in Yoga Sutras. Patanjali is considered to be father of yoga. According to Patanjali, there are eight limbs of yoga, which lead to ultimate goal of enlightenment. Yama - abstaining from violence, stealing, lust, greed Niyam - developing devotion, purity, studiousness, contentment, discipline
|
