A common question I get here at 60 in 3 is “does X count as exercise?” X can be anything from martial arts and team sports to house work and horseback riding. A relatively frequent topic for this kind of question is Yoga. So today I thought I would address the topic.
What Is Yoga?
For those of you not familiar with Yoga, I would suggest reading the Wikipedia article on it HERE. Basically, it’s an Asian form of stretching that combines various poses with a slow transition between them. My apologies for the Yoga experts in the crowd, I realize that my two line summary just butchered thousands of years of depth and detail but it’s the best I can do without devoting a lot more time and space. Also, please note that this article primarily focuses on the physical aspects of yoga. There are whole levels of spiritual aspects that I am not going to discuss. Again, if you’re interested in those, I would suggest the Wikipedia article as a good start.
It Seems A Bit Slow For Exercise
Well yes, Yoga is not going to be your cardio alternative, but it can definitely be a good way to build up muscle tone and stamina. Some of those poses are hard to maintain and hard to move through. You’d be surprised how difficult it might be even if you’re a regular gym goer.
Additional Benefits
- Flexibility – Yoga will do wonders for your flexibility, especially if stick with it for a long time.
- Stress Relief – One of the things I did not mention is that Yoga has a meditative component. Now you can ignore that if you want and just focus on the physical aspect. However, if you choose to add it in, Yoga can be a wonderful stress reliever.
Downsides
The only downside to Yoga is the cost. Since most people practice yoga with an instructor, that means you have to pay for classes, instead of a simple gym membership. I have yet to find a reasonable Yoga studio with inexpensive sessions. An inexpensive option might be to obtain some instructional videos and then try to practice yoga at home, but I think you would get less out of it at that point.
Summary
Yes, yoga absolutely counts as exercise. It’s basically a low intensity resistance training session that will tone your muscles and work on your flexibility. I would recommend combining it with some cardio work and some higher weight resistance training but this even on its own, it’s a great part of a healthy and fit life.
Actually, I would highly recommend yoga for those who are looking for a place to start. It’s social, relaxing and low intensity, making it a perfect option for people who are not too familiar with exercise.
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Got a good recommendation for a good yoga studio? Please feel free to post it in the comments.
I don’t practice yoga but I know several people who do. And there are a couple of variations that do have a cardiovascular benefit. Not enough to necessarily be a primary cardio exercise but certainly enough to be a secondary. It’s definitely worth the research to find a class that works for you.
Two words: Bikrams yoga. Intense, and cardio intensive.
Nice posting. Do you know about these yoga books?
http://www.YogaVidya.com/freepdfs.html
Yes, yoga can be quite a workout holding the poses. I believe it’s best done in conjunction with a regimented weight training program.
I love the Wii Fit yoga. It provide almost as good feedback at an instructor.
Hey! All yoga need not be slow paced… I lost 15 kgs in 6 months just by doing yoga. !Visit Bharat Thakur’s Artistic Yoga at http://www.artisticyoga.com or http://www.bharatthakur.com and experience yoga with a difference!