Weight Fitness

Fitness Yoga

February 9th, 2010 at 05:36pm Under fitness

Yoga is an ancient Hindu discipline that, in its purest form aims to help a person achieve tranquility and inner peace. Yoga made its way into Western society and is used as a relaxation technique. It is particularly popular amongst younger people who lead very busy lives and find that yoga allows them to detach from the hustle and bustle whilst helping to clear their mind.

The goal of yoga is to control both your mind and body. In recent years people have put a new spin on yoga to turn it into a fitness routine rather than just a spiritual and relaxation experience. Yoga has the ability to assist in the flexibility and strengthening of your body and it is these attributes that are focused on during fitness yoga routines and classes.

So what are the benefits of fitness yoga?

1. Strength
Yoga is a combination flow movements that have to be held for periods of time. This sort of resistance training is not practiced in any other form.

2. Flexibility
The range of motions that you do in yoga are unmatched by other exercises. Your flexibility will improve over time as some of the positions can be rather difficult (and best attempted after you gain some experience)

3. Balance
Most exercises focus on just a few core muscle groups or parts of the body whereas yoga encompasses your entire body (inside and out) and as such is one of the most all round forms of exercise you can do.

4. Breathing
Yoga teaches you how to breathe evenly and it lets you practice in a concentrated manner, unlike many other exercise forms in which it can be hard to concentrate on correct breathing techniques.

Fitness yoga is a great way to gain more flexibility and strength and is a welcome change from the regular exercise you might do. Always consult an expert or buy a fitness yoga DVD before starting so that you can learn the correct form for each exercise.

Most health and fitness clubs now hold yoga classes as this discipline becomes increasingly popular amongst people who are just starting to realize is multiple benefits.

By Paul Add comment

Yoga For Beginners (2006)

January 4th, 2010 at 12:32am Under fitness

Amazon.com
Yoga instructor Barbara Benagh has practiced and taught yoga for nearly 35 years. She discovered yoga while living in England and began teaching there. She moved to Boston and opened The Yoga Studio on Beacon Hill in 1980. In addition to her local classes Barbara teaches yoga seminars throughout the US and internationally. She is a regular contributor of articles to Yoga Journal magazine. She has several audio CDs of live classes available as well as DVDs, the latest b (more…)

By Paul 10 comments

Body Weight Fitness – Great Workout, No Equipment Necessary

November 19th, 2009 at 02:12am Under Fitness Equipment+ Weights and Fitness

Body weight fitness is all about doing – getting our body moving and exercising using the resistance provided by our own bodies. No equipment is necessary, nor is an expensive gym or health club membership required. In fact, you do not need to spend a single penny.

The only this that is required is a commitment to yourself and your health. It could even be as little as eight to ten minutes a day!

There are many ways to get exercising using your body alone, Yoga and Pilates, as well as simple push-ups and sit-ups come to mind when I think of these exercises. There are many more.

Such workouts allow

you to exercise no matter where you happen

to be or even if time is at a minimal.

Don’t believe me? Drop down and pump out a quick fifty push-ups. How do you feel afterward?

Body weight fitness works, plain and simple. This exercise method can strengthen, and tone your body and even help in your flexibility.

This is also the method of exercise I use most since it is very difficult to hurt yourself doing it.

Because I have Scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, both my doctor and Sensei (martial arts instructor) do not want me to lift heavy weights.

I have achieved very strong, flexible muscles geared to martial arts through Yoga, Pilates, and cardio exercises.

Weights are not needed for a good exercise program and of course there isn’t a perfect program for everyone. It all depends on what you want to accomplish and what you enjoy. Because, after all, if we don’t enjoy it, we probably won’t keep doing it.

If you don’t like to go to a gym and have to wait for a machine or work station to be available, or if you don’t have much room to exercise to begin with, or if money is tight, give body weight fitness a try. You’ll be glad you did.

By Paul