It can be confusing at times to choose between practicing yoga and working out in the gym to maintain your health and overall wellbeing. Professionals say, for ideal results it is best to combine 3-4 days of cardio with 2-3 days of yoga, each week. The two can complement each other nicely.
“In my opinion putting both together is going to be the best thing you can do.”- Dave, Yoga and Fitness Trainer at Planet Fitness.
YOGA
Yoga is not just about working out, it’s about an overall wellbeing of an individual. The practice of yoga allows people to find stillness in a world consumed with chaos. Peace and tranquillity achieved through focused training appeals to most of the people.
Dave, Yoga and Fitness Trainer at Planet Fitness
“Yoga is always going to be beneficial because of the stretching and the strength components of it. People who have any kind of injury that they’ve suffered you can see more flexibility occur in the area within days of practicing yoga asana.”- Dave
Practicing asana and pranayama few days in a week helps in increasing flexibility, toning of the muscles and strengthening of the body. One feels energized and fresh after a yoga session.
“It benefits you not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.”-Dave
You don’t need any equipment, just some space around yourself to practice the various asanas. You save the travel time needed to go to a gym.
GYM
On the contrary working out in the gym can be less affordable as compared to practicing yoga at home. Not everyone can afford a gym membership and expensive equipments at home. There are times when one tends to skip gym sessions because of travelling issues, weather, etc.
“After a gym work out one may feel tired and having to deal with sore body parts. An hour long session may increase your hunger and lead to overeating.”-Dave
Gym sessions act more or less on the outer appearance and tone the muscles.
“A gym workout mostly has only physical benefits and rarely offers mental stimulation.”-Dave
Yoga vs Gym Linkedin/CC
How much is too much?
Anything can harm a human body when taken to an extreme, either its yoga of gym. Exercise is an essential part of managing your health, being over conscious about fitness can do more harm than good. Exercising inordinately can increase risk of injury and other health related problems.
Wellness and fitness trainer at Planet Fitness, Zech Brockington advise his clients to work out 2 days in the gym and practice yoga 3 days a week for just an hour.
“When I train my clients I go for three or four sessions in the gym a week with three days off within that, when you rest is when you grow, and people don’t realize how long they have to rest. Listen to your body and if a muscle is aching don’t work it until it stops.”- Brockington
When it comes to healthy habits, too much of a good thing can backfire, and that applies to exercise as well.
While most people suffer from lack of exercise, once you get going, it can be addictive and some people do end up exercising too much either by exercising too intensely or too frequently.
