If you are looking to increase and/or maximize the effects of your yoga workout, or even make your yoga regime more enjoyable and comfortable, please read on.
One of the most overlooked aspects of exercise is: comfort. There seems to be a common misconception that exercise HAS to include pain and discomfort. However, walking, one of the best exercises is not usually uncomfortable. (If it is, take the pebble out of your shoe!)
True, muscle mass does come from ripping and tearing a muscle so that when it does heal, it is larger in size. However, that is only for one of the muscle types and only if you are trying to bulk-up. If you are looking for endurance and toning, it is a different group of muscle fibres that are targeted. This becomes more about consistency and slowly working up to higher levels/durations than it is about “no pain, no gain”.
So, how can we make our yoga practice more comfortable?
1. Environment - If you choose a location that is precisely the setting that you enjoy, you will inherently want to exercise more frequently. This can range from temperature, lighting, ambient music and/or sounds to fragrant aromas, etc. If space permits, it is advisable to maintain a specific location for this regime, as everything is energy, and energy builds resonance. For example, if you start an energizing yoga routine in your bedroom, you may experience a disruption in your sleep patterns, as energizing and relaxing energies are colliding.
2. Clothing - Tight clothing may bring pain (not good), but loose or comfortable clothing allows muscles to move more easily, normal blood flow and natural movement of the diaphragm for better breathing, as well as ventilation for cooling the body.
3. Diet - Eating heavy foods or drinking large quantities prior to any rigorous exercise regime can cause discomfort and nausea. Exercise should be done on a near empty stomach, but not when you are very hungry or dehydrated. Try to wait two to three hours after a meal before your yoga regime.
4. Time of Day - Dawn is regarded by many as the best time, as the air is fresh and is full of prana (life force or chi). However, not everyone can work a dawn regime into their lives, so find a time that works with your life and your schedule. If you try to force yourself into practicing a regime that is out of synch with your schedule, which is pain, you will be more likely to quit.
5. Posture - We life in a society of poor posture, which inhibits proper flow in the body (energy, blood, even nerve impulses). Proper posture (comfortable position with back as straight as possible, chin slightly tucked in) allows energy to flow up and down the spine and into the brain region, which may also reduce risk of dizziness during exercise.
6. Physical exertion - Once again, there can be gain without pain. Part of the focus of yoga is to get your energy flowing properly. Say per chance that years of poor posture has led to some serious energy blockages, do you think that this can be rectified in one or two painful sessions? The key to yoga is to never strain and over-exert, as yoga is a journey and a lifestyle, not a competition. Listen to your body and let the benefits occur in a natural progression.
7. Wellness - Regardless of the type of exercise, when unwell, use caution. The lymphatic or immune system has no pump to drain lymph, but relies upon muscle movement. Over-exertion can actually cause more harm than good, as lymph is moved too quickly by the vigorous muscle movements through an ailing immune system that cannot properly contend with the foreign matter. Reduce the intensity of the program and perhaps change the poses and difficulty level until feeling well, but try not to stop altogether unless really ill. (Gentle movement causes lymph to flow, speeding recovery, whereas over-exertion can exacerbate the situation.)
8. Awareness - All forms of exercise are forms of energy ‘manipulation’. Thoughts and intentions are another form of energy ‘manipulation’ that work synergistically with all exercise regimes. If you keep your awareness on each yoga pose and use your thoughts and intentions to direct the energy in a natural flow with the pose, the overall effectiveness is increased. Conversely, negative attitude, thoughts and images can greatly detract from a regime.
9. Breathing - Breathing is one activity that is greatly overlooked in western culture, which is fascinating as life and vitality come through breath. Deep even breaths have so many positive side effects that it will probably take western science decades to measure and categorize them all. So, until that time, examine your breathing when you are: calm, angry, stressed, and scared. When calm it is typically deeper and more even, when in a negative state it tends to be shallower and very uneven. (How often do you find yourself holding your breath when stressed? What then happens to the free-flow of energy?)
As clearly defined above, there are numerous steps that can be taken to increase the effectiveness of your yoga and other exercise regimes, while making them more comfortable and enjoyable. If you adhere to the information above, could you see yourself exercising more frequently?
And, what if you did exercise more frequently? What would your life look like then? Could you see yourself at that perfect weight? How would you feel if you were in perfect health? Oh that brings me to my last point: mental state. If you see yourself failing, you will fail. If you see yourself succeeding and apply the above tips, you have set the stage for success! Then, all it takes is a little commitment and dedication, but since you have taken the pain out of your regime, things just got a whole lot easier.
If you are looking for a little encouragement and support, visit my yoga blog at: ali-yogaposes.blogspot.com/. Here, I have posted some of my favourite routines, for everything from: beginner yoga poses to best yoga poses, to specific yoga poses for weight loss and yoga poses for chakras.
One of the most overlooked aspects of exercise is: comfort. There seems to be a common misconception that exercise HAS to include pain and discomfort. However, walking, one of the best exercises is not usually uncomfortable. (If it is, take the pebble out of your shoe!)
True, muscle mass does come from ripping and tearing a muscle so that when it does heal, it is larger in size. However, that is only for one of the muscle types and only if you are trying to bulk-up. If you are looking for endurance and toning, it is a different group of muscle fibres that are targeted. This becomes more about consistency and slowly working up to higher levels/durations than it is about “no pain, no gain”.
So, how can we make our yoga practice more comfortable?
1. Environment - If you choose a location that is precisely the setting that you enjoy, you will inherently want to exercise more frequently. This can range from temperature, lighting, ambient music and/or sounds to fragrant aromas, etc. If space permits, it is advisable to maintain a specific location for this regime, as everything is energy, and energy builds resonance. For example, if you start an energizing yoga routine in your bedroom, you may experience a disruption in your sleep patterns, as energizing and relaxing energies are colliding.
2. Clothing - Tight clothing may bring pain (not good), but loose or comfortable clothing allows muscles to move more easily, normal blood flow and natural movement of the diaphragm for better breathing, as well as ventilation for cooling the body.
3. Diet - Eating heavy foods or drinking large quantities prior to any rigorous exercise regime can cause discomfort and nausea. Exercise should be done on a near empty stomach, but not when you are very hungry or dehydrated. Try to wait two to three hours after a meal before your yoga regime.
4. Time of Day - Dawn is regarded by many as the best time, as the air is fresh and is full of prana (life force or chi). However, not everyone can work a dawn regime into their lives, so find a time that works with your life and your schedule. If you try to force yourself into practicing a regime that is out of synch with your schedule, which is pain, you will be more likely to quit.
5. Posture - We life in a society of poor posture, which inhibits proper flow in the body (energy, blood, even nerve impulses). Proper posture (comfortable position with back as straight as possible, chin slightly tucked in) allows energy to flow up and down the spine and into the brain region, which may also reduce risk of dizziness during exercise.
6. Physical exertion - Once again, there can be gain without pain. Part of the focus of yoga is to get your energy flowing properly. Say per chance that years of poor posture has led to some serious energy blockages, do you think that this can be rectified in one or two painful sessions? The key to yoga is to never strain and over-exert, as yoga is a journey and a lifestyle, not a competition. Listen to your body and let the benefits occur in a natural progression.
7. Wellness - Regardless of the type of exercise, when unwell, use caution. The lymphatic or immune system has no pump to drain lymph, but relies upon muscle movement. Over-exertion can actually cause more harm than good, as lymph is moved too quickly by the vigorous muscle movements through an ailing immune system that cannot properly contend with the foreign matter. Reduce the intensity of the program and perhaps change the poses and difficulty level until feeling well, but try not to stop altogether unless really ill. (Gentle movement causes lymph to flow, speeding recovery, whereas over-exertion can exacerbate the situation.)
8. Awareness - All forms of exercise are forms of energy ‘manipulation’. Thoughts and intentions are another form of energy ‘manipulation’ that work synergistically with all exercise regimes. If you keep your awareness on each yoga pose and use your thoughts and intentions to direct the energy in a natural flow with the pose, the overall effectiveness is increased. Conversely, negative attitude, thoughts and images can greatly detract from a regime.
9. Breathing - Breathing is one activity that is greatly overlooked in western culture, which is fascinating as life and vitality come through breath. Deep even breaths have so many positive side effects that it will probably take western science decades to measure and categorize them all. So, until that time, examine your breathing when you are: calm, angry, stressed, and scared. When calm it is typically deeper and more even, when in a negative state it tends to be shallower and very uneven. (How often do you find yourself holding your breath when stressed? What then happens to the free-flow of energy?)
As clearly defined above, there are numerous steps that can be taken to increase the effectiveness of your yoga and other exercise regimes, while making them more comfortable and enjoyable. If you adhere to the information above, could you see yourself exercising more frequently?
And, what if you did exercise more frequently? What would your life look like then? Could you see yourself at that perfect weight? How would you feel if you were in perfect health? Oh that brings me to my last point: mental state. If you see yourself failing, you will fail. If you see yourself succeeding and apply the above tips, you have set the stage for success! Then, all it takes is a little commitment and dedication, but since you have taken the pain out of your regime, things just got a whole lot easier.
If you are looking for a little encouragement and support, visit my yoga blog at: ali-yogaposes.blogspot.com/. Here, I have posted some of my favourite routines, for everything from: beginner yoga poses to best yoga poses, to specific yoga poses for weight loss and yoga poses for chakras.
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