Many people who come to yoga eventually notice that they have lost interest in any other physical activity – running, fitness, etc. Why does this happen? And is yoga alone enough for full physical development? Let’s try to find out.
What is the difference between yoga and sports? First of all, different motivations. In sports it’s all about records and achievements. Even though they get hurt, they keep pushing themselves through the pain. In yoga it’s the opposite. It’s primarily health-oriented, not achievement-oriented. Ahimsa (nonviolence) is the basic principle of this ancient teaching. Therefore, when practicing yoga, you can’t do anything through pain. Yoga teaches you to listen to your body and live with it in perfect harmony. The body will always tell you what it’s allowed to do and what it’s better to avoid.
So is yoga good enough for the body if we treat it with so much care while practicing? Absolutely! Gradually more and more asanas are added to the practice, which is great for developing us physically. There’s enough variety and quantity of yoga poses to last a lifetime. It’s not going to be boring.
Yoga practice is very multi-faceted and allows you to bring the body in excellent condition. People who are far away from this subject naively think that yoga is a joint exercise for weak people who eat only grass and can only chant mantras and twist themselves into a ram’s horn. It’s not like that! Over time any yogi becomes not only flexible but also strong, steady and calm.
There are a lot of asanas in yoga that require not only flexibility but also very strong muscles. Headstands, forearms, arms… Lower body rests, bars… Chaturanga alone is worth a lot! So how do I improve my strength faster if I do yoga? By doing dynamic yoga kriyas, which are strength exercises made out of asanas.
Do I need extra weight to strengthen my muscles? The best exerciser is your body. Its gravity is enough to develop decent strength muscles. At the same time they will not be unnaturally bloated, as in people who are fond of lifting weights. Such muscles are not enduring, and not particularly strong. In addition, such ways of working with the body are aimed at a beautiful appearance, but harmful to health. Any exercises with weights (dumbbells, barbells and weight machines) lower internal organs and mercilessly wear out the joints. Yoga, on the other hand, makes the joints mobile and healthy, getting rid of age-related arthritis and chondrosis.
So it turns out that yoga can replace and supplant many of the sports that you were into before it, and bring your body into a beautiful state. And that’s not to mention the philosophical, psychological and spiritual development that this ancient teaching brings with it. Have a healthy practice!