To the untrained eye, yoga and strength training could not seem more different. The vigorous and aggressive movements to increase strength and muscle mass seem like polar opposites to the slower, meditative movements of yoga. However, their differences create a combo so complimentary that you will be kicking yourself for not doing both sooner. There are plenty of reasons to incorporate yoga into your strength training regimen, some obvious, and others that may surprise you. If you are looking into adding yoga and aren’t sure of all the awesome benefits, be sure to check this post out first!
Recovery
It’s no secret that yoga postures work wonders on sore muscles and are a great way to get an active recovery in between strength training sessions. Yoga also helps to prevent any injuries caused by overextending and can assist in the recovery of injuries to get you back in shape for your workouts.
Flexibility
While flexibility may not be a priority for a lot of people, it can help in many different areas in your training. Becoming more flexible can help you get deeper into a variety of moves — squats, lunges, and upper-body exercises such as skull crushers for example. By establishing a greater and more flexible range of motion, you can work the muscles even more effectively.
Balance
Becoming balanced in the body is an integral part of both yoga and strength training. While most strength workouts don’t involve any funky poses like Tree or Dancer, learning to develop that balancing connection between body and mind can help as you train to get stronger across your entire body. We all have one side that we think is stronger or more stable than the other, and yoga is all about creating that balance between the two. Additionally, it’s amazing for the mind as you focus on concentration, willpower, and equanimity.
Mobility
Yoga involves lots of juicy twisting that helps to lengthen the spine and improve the range of motion in that area in a way that weight lifting or other forms of strength training typically can’t. Twisting works all of these muscles around the spine and abdomen, aiding in fat loss and decreasing bloating. A strong and healthy spine is the fountain of youth, and twisting allows you to keep the spine as healthy as possible. If you are just getting started and need to find a yoga mat, good news! We have just the thing for you!
Strength
Strength training is wonderful for muscle building and isolation exercises, while yoga is effective at sculpting long, lean, and healthy muscle. Together, the two are unstoppable — both have proven health benefits that go beyond just weight loss or muscle building. They are incredible for boosting the immune system and improving mental health, a healthy way of de-stressing, confidence building, and increasing focus.
Yoga and Strength Training Conclusion
Rather you are looking to combine yoga with strength training or vice versa, the benefits you will see will be obvious. Not just from an appearance and weight loss/toning perspective, but from a mental, physical, and emotional standpoint. If you need a hand finding the strength training program for you, Lift Vault has an awesome database and filter to help you find just what you are looking for.
