Yoga vs. Gym

I have found myself missing Yoga so much.  I used to do Yoga approximately 5 times a week.  I lost 8 pounds the first month I started and was becoming extremely flexible and mentally balanced. I would go at lunch time and come back feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. At about the 6 month mark I began to Plato, I wasn't loosing any more weight so I decided I needed to start going to the gym. Which is what I have been doing for the past year and a half. But lately I have been missing yoga, the feeling it gave me and the flexibility and strange soreness I would get after a good yoga session.

I decided to google yoga vs. gym to find out which really is better for you all around.

Yoga vs. The Gym

1. The Benefits of Yoga
The two most effective benefits of yoga are increasing flexibility and increasing lubrication of the joints, ligaments and tendons - yoga has positions that act upon the various joints of the body including those joints that are never really on the 'radar screen' let alone exercised. This would be why I am sore in the weirdest of places after a good yoga sesh!

2. The Redundancy of Long, Slow Workouts
The 60-90 minute lackadaisical workout you've been doing is redundant and useless because of your yoga training. Yoga is aerobic in nature. If you aren't pushing yourself hard enough during your workout, then that too becomes aerobic in nature.

Experts suggest supplementing yoga with short, in tense workouts to build anaerobic capacity, which is not trained in most yoga classes.

3. The Truth About Anaerobic vs. Aerobic Training
What's the difference? Well, that's a whole other blog post, so for now -  just Google it. What you do need to know is that anaerobic conditioning improves your performance in all areas of your life - including aerobic activities.

However, this does not work the other way around, aerobic exercise will not improve your anaerobic capacity- it actually produces a catabolic effect by tearing down the proteins in your muscles.

4. Accountability to Others
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to train in a group dynamic. We've all done it - tried to work out in our home or at the park by ourselves. It doesn't work. You know deep down inside you don't push yourself as hard as you do in front of a group cheering you on (or in my case I thrive on the competition to be the best.) Outside perspective also plays a key role in developing good form - take advantage of constructive criticism by your peers. Ultimately, it comes down to being accountable for your work; make sure you find an instructor who cares when you miss a class/workout.

5. Short, High Intensity Workouts
The best supplement for yoga training is a strength and conditioning fitness program that focuses on functional movements performed at high intensity. This type of strenuous exercise is the perfect complement for a calm and relaxing practice such as yoga - implementing both into your routine will help you physically, mentally and perhaps even spiritually.

So, do you think yoga can completely replace going to the gym?

I think my plan will be to continue with the gym until my pass expires, which happens to be on Monday. Then I will begin with Yoga at lunch again (it also happen to be across the street from work, therefore I don't have to freeze my buns off driving to the gym every day in the cold) and then I will add in work outs in the evenings or weekends (I do have a very lonely elliptical machine at home that is begging for my love and attention) AND on Fridays at noon I will go to my favorite Cardio Boot camp class since the Friday yoga class is meditative and not a good work out!

check back soon for a picture of me like this...