We know that physical activity is very important in the current life style to keep up good health. Our doctor always advice to take up exercises, sports or Yoga as part of daily routine for a healthy living. To begin with, comparing yoga with working out in the gym first we need to understand the both side advantages. Because both are aimed for some different purposes and designed by well thought and analysis.
What is Yoga?
Yoga means union of the individual consciousness or soul with the Universal Consciousness or Spirit. “Yoga is not just exercise and asanas".Though many think of yoga only as a physical exercise where people twist, turn, stretch, and breathe in the most complex ways, these are actually only the most superficial aspect of this profound science of unfolding the infinite potentials of the human mind and soul.
However, given the commonly made comparison between the two, we bring to you some reasons why yoga is always a better choice.
1. Yoga will teach you how to focus on yourself: Many yoga studios don’t even have mirrors so you’re forced to think about where your Body is and what each muscle and limb is doing, whereas gym classes have mirrors for you to see—and worry about—what everyone else is doing.
2. Yoga teaches acceptance: Yoga is more about self-acceptance than self-improvement. Meditation, a part of yoga, teaches one to be aware of both their strengths and limitations. The gym, with its preoccupation with getting you into the “right” size and shape, however, can make you feel like a failure.
3. Yoga benefits the mind, body and spirit: Yoga will help tone your body but while it’s doing that, it also helps you to be truly in the moment and infuses your spirit with positive energy. A gym workout is focused primarily on improving your body’s physical condition.
4. Everyone can practice yoga: Gym workouts are typically not senior or child friendly. The elderly, especially, are highly advised to not go to the gym. However, when it comes to yoga, your age does not matter. As they say, you do not have to adapt your body to yoga, yoga adopts itself to you.
5. Yoga reduces stress: A yoga session helps you to clear the mind off the stresses of the day. Practising yoga regularly can make you equipped to effectively handle stressful situations, and emerge calm from each of them. The competitive nature of gym, on the other hand, is likely to only augment the stress.
6. Yoga improves concentration: During a yoga practice, you focus on the breath, the posture and the gaze. Outside distractions are tuned out. While you can try and do this at the gym, this focus and silence is not exactly encouraged with all the other distractions around, like loud music, TVs, etc.
7. Yoga helps you breathe easier: During times of stress, it’s easy to forget to really breathe, and not just shallow breaths. Without deep breaths, it’s harder to think clearly and fatigue can set in. Yoga focuses on the breath so that when you need it most, those deep breaths are the norm.
8. Yoga eases your aches and pains: Not to say that yoga is not intense. It builds heat and works your muscles, however, it entails no such thing that can cause injury to your body, like lifting weights. While yoga eases your aches and pains, gym increases them. Yoga stretches muscles and opens the energy channels of the body, automatically increasing the flexibility of the body.
9. You can do yoga anywhere: Yoga is a different experience in a yoga studio, but you can easily practice yoga at home, outside or in small spaces. All you need is about 6 feet by 4 feet and you have your own yoga studio. A gym workout requires more equipment and more space.
10.Yoga benefits your full body externally and internally: The twisting, stretching and folding of a yoga practice are good for the digestive system, the circulatory system, the lymph system and more. It’s a great way to detox the body and can improve your cardiovascular system. And all this while developing stronger muscles. A gym workout is focused just on strengthening muscles and boosting cardio.
“Yoga believes that mind controls the body health. Since nervous system controls entire human body functions and movements, this concept of yoga seems to be right.”
