Physical Benefits of Yoga

Being an athlete for the past several years can take a harsh toll on the body; being a sprinter automatically gives one a lazy mindset (or at least I found that me and my sprinter friends always looked for shortcuts). So what could I do? I know I needed to have some form of exercise to alleviate the injuries I endured over the years, but I knew that doing basic stretches by myself daily was only going to last me a week. I needed a system, a workout buddy; something organized to keep me focused. So I researched Yoga. I was not in need of yoga from a spiritual perspective, but my physical body had enough and needed a change! I found that yoga has a lot more benefits than flexibility and stability, and over time as I began to practice yoga; I felt a change in my physical body. My posture changed, my shoulders were less tense, my legs weren’t aching after walking for ten minutes; yoga helped me take care of my body better than I was before.Like I stated before Yoga truly helps with flexibility and stability, but what I didn’t know is that if you practice yoga, you can also release stress (migraines), help your heart by lowering your blood pressures, and lowering cholesterol. According to thedailyburn.com Yoga can help you sleep better and feel less fatigued, as well as help control food cravings. Lastly, I found that for those struggling with respiratory problems found that the breathing techniques performed in yoga helped those issues, (cnachealth.com)I know right now you may be thinking, I can’t do yoga or when I tried it, I found it didn’t benefit me. Well the answer to that my be what were you looking to gain from doing yoga and figuring out which yoga is right for you.Types of Yoga:Yoga for Weight LossIf you are looking to practice yoga to loss some weight you should try Vinyasa or Bikram Yoga.Vinyasa is a fast paced yoga that changes postures quickly. If you pair this yoga 2x a week with a cardio workout you will begin to see weight loss. Bikram aka Hot Yoga has also been known to be used for weight loss. Being in a 105 degree Farenheit room practices yoga poses can increase your heart rate which will burn calories fasters. Bikram yoga also helps your digestive system and allows to get rid of those unhealthy food cravings.Yoga for AthletesPower Yoga is a strength training yoga that focuses on your core and is often paired with hand weights. If you’re looking for a good workout, try this type of yoga!Iyenar Yoga, every athlete should ensure that one form of yoga they practice is NOT high paced. After power yoga, it is essential that an athlete practice a form of yoga that focuses on performance and breath control. Iyenar helps to promote strength while releasing tension and building mobility and stability.Yoga for All AgesRestorative Yoga is for all ages. It focuses on the beginner postures while relaxing and soothing the nerves. Props that are usually used are blankets/pillows and the ideal goal is to allow you to gain more flexibility and stability.Be Healthy, Xoxo