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How Is Yoga Different From Stretching In Other Forms Of Exercise?
Anyone who’s touched their toes before a big race knows the benefits of proper stretching before exercising or playing a sport. While yoga practice might look no different than those hamstring stretches and shoulder rolls so common in physical fitness, the reality is that yogic stretching can be more involved than typical stretching exercises.
Here are 6 things that should make yoga your choice for adding that extra inch to your reach:
Yoga increases static stretching. In this activity, the body supports its own weight and does not move. During yoga, students hold poses, also called asanas, for extended periods of time. Beginning students may only be able to hold postures for a short period. With practice, however, practitioners build the strength and balance to stay in the same position for 30 seconds to a minute.
Yoga asanas also allow students to increase dynamic flexibility. In yoga, for example, a student might sweep his or her arm in a full arc above the head. These kinds of exercises ensure that the joints can move through their full range of motion. Good dynamic flexibility, like that taught in yoga, can lessen the risk of injury.
Yoga emphasizes the proper way to breathe while stretching. During a session, it’s common to hear the instructor remind students to breathe in right before the stretch and breathe out while moving into the stretch. Students are also reminded to breathe deeply while holding each stretch.
Being reminded to breathe may sound odd, but there are practical reasons for it. One benefit of good breathing technique is its relaxing effect on the body. When the body is relaxed, it’s easier to stretch. These exercises also increase blood flow, meaning the muscles and ligaments get the energy they need to stretch properly. In addition, breathing deeply helps remove the substance that causes exercise burn, lactic acid, making it easier to focus on your stretch instead of on a painful side stitch. Finally, it’s quite common for people to hold their breath during stretching. This creates tension, making it more difficult to stretch.
Yogic stretching emphasizes proper body alignment, too. That means in any particular pose, each body part has a specific spot. For example, in Warrior’s pose, the rear foot is placed at a 90 degree angle, while the front foot faces forward. This naturally places the rest of the body in a particular alignment.
In traditional yoga philosophy, ensuring the body is aligned during poses allows energy, or prana, to flow through the body properly. These specific positions also allow yoga students to get the maximum stretch out of each posture.
Yoga increases functional flexibility. This is when all the muscles, ligaments, and other connective tissues of the body learn to work together as a team. While a hamstring stretch is just that—a hamstring stretch—a yoga pose might gently stretch the arms and hamstrings at the same time. Yogic stretches also emphasize improving the flexibility of the spine, which is critical because the spine works with so many other muscle groups. When your functional flexibility increases, you’re less likely to injure yourself as you simultaneously grab your toddler’s collar while reaching into the cabinet for the baby’s bottle.
Functional flexibility is also important as you grow older. As we age, the chemical structure of our connective tissues starts to change, making them less supple. Although age naturally makes the body less flexible, yoga exercises can help the body maintain and even improve the range of motion needed to do everyday tasks, such as stepping into the shower stall or reaching into the veggie garden.
Yoga is much more than just stretching. Poses build muscle strength while meditation calms the mind. Stress hormones are lowered by yoga’s breathing exercises. Additionally, the discipline helps students develop focus, which is an important part of any job or relationship. From postures that build pretty posteriors to meditations that bust stress, yoga is a way to lead the whole body—mind, body, and soul—to a healthy lifestyle. Can’t say the same thing about a plain ol’ hamstring stretch, can you?
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