Give yourself a fair chance:If you have stayed with us so far, you would have realised that we have always seen fitness as a vital instrument that helps you discover yourself. And discovering oneself is an exciting life-long voyage. In this eternal adventure, you never know what little nugget of information or capsule of experience may come in handy in focusing more sharply into yourself.Take this friend of ours who has enrolled her ten-year-old daughter for every course imaginable-painting, tennis, singing, dancing, swimming, acting, elocution... the list is endless Do you think she is overdoing it? Not at all. You will realise why when you hear her wise reasoning: If I don't give my daughter every opportunity possible, how will she know whether she has an interest or talent in a particular field? she says, "By exposing her to as wide a range of activities as are available, I'm hoping to give her a fair chance to discover for herself where her interests lie."That is what we are talking about. As long as you turn your face away from any fitness-oriented activity, how do you know you wouldn't be missing something you would have enjoyed? if you are already scoring a century on your score-card, bless you! And now who knows? You may be ready for something more. Even if you don't feel like reading about weight training at this stage, pick up the book again in a month or two. And go through this chapter. Give yourself a fair chance.You are a natural weight-trainerYou may not have thought about it quite this way, but you have always been a weight-trainer. As a waddling toddler, didn't you derive a special joy from carrying things to and fro? Remember, how you would pick up an Object - however heavy - to satisfy your curiosity? Then, later, you hefted your school-bag on your shoulder. In college, you walked around with your notes and books. And later, groceries, a briefcase, a suitcase, your own baby... Ah, you are getting the picture, aren't you'We understand why you were initially put off by the subject. Say the word Weight-training' and what image does it conjure up? A bicep giant Standing with feet apart in front of a huge bar-bell. He bends down, grasps the bar with his massive hands, grunts and... heave-ho! That's not have in mind - because that kind of body-building is not about fitness. It is purely to display a superhuman physique or monstrous strength.Our, weight-training is done with light weights. It is for us, human folk, who just want to lead fit, happy lives. So, there is nothing to fear or even be indifferent about. For, you won't end up looking like those muscled amazons or those W.W.F. wrestlers by following our weight-training tips. To reach their 'overweight-muscle' level, you have to work extremely hard and intensely-whichever sex you belong to on loads that would stagger a lorry!Granted if you are a man, you may muscle up a bit and sport that slightly bicep look. But, surely, you won't have any complaint against that! And if you are a woman, you will probably be petrified at the thought of looking masculine. Perish the thought! You need not worry about looking like a female Tarzan because you just don't have enough of testosterone, the male hormone that goes into giving that muscled look.
Muscle & Fitness Magazine
A study was conducted at the 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 the end of the eight-week period, the researchers measured the 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 the 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 the resistance. While you are not likely going to produce the 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 the 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 the pose and then resume it because my muscles were so challenged. I don't often experience this during weight training sessions.
In addition, some balance postures such as Tree Pose and Shoulderstand require enormous muscle control in order to prevent you from falling over. This helps to build and strengthen your muscles.
Muscle Balance
In weight training, you isolate a specific muscle as you perform an exercise and this leads to a short, tightened muscle. The muscles you develop during yoga are more likely to be elongated, because while you are strengthening them, you are simultaneously lengthening them. You also do not focus on an isolated muscle, but actively recruit the smaller muscle groups as well. You truly work your entire body when you practice yoga.
Practicing yoga can help realign your muscles, so they are more balanced. Since you are not overworking any specific muscle group, you are less likely to get injured.
In addition to all its other benefits, yoga can help you improve muscle fitness. Whether you choose to use it as your primary means of strength training or you want it to supplement your other exercises, yoga can help your muscles grow fit, balanced, and strong.
Both Ricky Hussey & Abad Wilson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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