Typically, Yoga and Weightlifting are viewed as independent of each other, completely different forms of exercise, and practiced by two entirely different groups of people. Where Yoga is considered to be primarily for relaxation with hints of spiritualism, weightlifting is seen as intense and a lot of hard work muscular work. Both have benefits. Our Chiropractor in West Vancouver typically have patients that do one or the other but very few do them both.
While those stereotypes might be pretty accurate, it is becoming more common to see Yoga incorporated into other forms of fitness training, weightlifting being one of them. Fitness centres and gyms will now prescribe some form of Yoga alongside sports training. As a Chiropractor in West Vancouver, we continue to see the positive benefit of Yoga across all disciplines.
How Does Practicing Yoga Help With Weightlifting?
Yoga and weightlifting actually go hand-in-hand. Yoga is considered an extra form of improving strength, endurance, and balance. Yoga poses help to maximize performance by improving body posture and stretching and exercising muscles that might be missed out during a weightlifting schedule.
That being said, the mental side of Yoga can also be a positive. After a strenuous session of weightlifting, Yoga helps the mind relax and the brain to wander. It can refine your focus and bring more attention to your body. An intense yoga routine alongside weightlifting will have an immensely positive impact on your performance.
Overall, Yoga might not be for everyone. Still, as a Chiropractor in West Vancouver, we understand that even small facets of Yoga – specific stretches, certain exercises – can complement a healthy lifestyle and exercise routine, whether it’s weight lifting or running marathons.
Learning About Your Own Body
Starting out on a path of weightlifting and Yoga can seem daunting. There is a lot to learn about both forms of exercise, but the key is to learn more about your own body while practicing both. Yoga brings parts of your body into focus that you might have always overlooked. Pushing new areas of muscles, trying different types of stretching, and practicing unique breathing exercises that can really help relax the body and give you direction for further exercises.
Recovery After Weightlifting
Weightlifting is intense on your muscles, and it’s the period of recovery after a session where the muscles grow in strength. Yoga is ideal to stretch and relax the muscles of the body after weightlifting, introducing slow and mellow poses that have an impact on critical areas, like the back, shoulders, and neck. Yoga is ideal because it should be approached with a relaxed attitude. Don’t strain your body more than necessary. A short session of Yoga for about 15 to 20 minutes after a weight lifting routine will bring a lot of benefits with muscle recovery, cool down, and most of all, flexibility.
Flexibility
Weightlifting is all about striking a balance. As a Chiropractor here in West Vancouver, we’re often faced with the question of how much to push the body in the right direction. Both agonist and antagonist muscles – the muscles that act against each other in pushing and pulling movements – are both important to building strength and staying fit. Yoga helps retain flexibility in the different muscle types with structured poses around every kind of muscle. Remember the golden rule: Flexibility before Strength. If you reverse that mantra and focus on Strength before Flexibility, you’ll end dangerously close to getting an injury at some point.
Understanding Which Type Of Yoga And Stretches Best Suit You
Yoga is a complicated affair. There are many different types of yoga practice, each with its own unique variations and goals. If you’re just beginning to practice Yoga, it can be overwhelming to understand what you should and shouldn’t be doing. Thankfully, Chiropractic care can take many of the complex aspects of Yoga and understandably present them in a useful way.
For example, certain yoga poses may be beneficial to those who do a lot of cardio, such as running or jogging. Other forms of Yoga are better suited to weightlifters and those who prefer more intense periods of exercise. That being said, Yoga, in general, helps broaden the impact of exercise on ALL muscle groups throughout the body. If you’re concerned about getting an unbalanced workout, Yoga can help restore some of that balance.
Most people think that Yoga is all about stretching. It’s not entirely true. There is also a good deal of isometric contraction when you’re trying to hold a pose. That involves contracting a muscle or muscles to help you stay in position without the eccentric or concentric movements such as pulling or pushing. The muscles are contracting to hold a position, so you are actually straining those muscles and making them work. When you release that pose and transition to the next pose that stretches that same muscle, then comes the stretching of that same muscle. You do both contracting and stretching at the same time. Both are good for the muscle.
Yoga And Chiropractic Care
Yoga and Chiropractic care also complement each other. Often athletes and casual weightlifters will approach a chiropractor for after-injury care, where yoga and chiropractic treatment can have the most significant impact. Where chiropractic care improves joint health, adjusts body misalignments, and enhances the function of the nervous system, Yoga can help reduce stress and increase flexibility.
Yoga and chiropractic care shouldn’t just be reserved for dealing with problems after an injury. Pairing yoga and strenuous exercise can actually help prevent injury in the first place. Our Ambleside Chiropractor in West Vancouver helps patients with laying down routines that are shaped around goals, ability, and the existing condition of the body. It’s a good idea to seek professional advice before following any type of exercise that might push the body further than you’re used to doing.
One last thought
It’s important to remember to treat your body as well as you can to help prevent injuries and dysfunction. Not being able to do something because you pulled or even tore a muscle can be wholly avoided if you incorporate only one simple thing into your daily life. That one thing is stretching. If weight lifting is your thing, then stretch well after each workout and continue to stretch every day, even on rest days. If you need structure or don’t know how to stretch, then incorporate Yoga as an augmentation to your weightlifting routine. You can do Yoga on your rest days and try to include it 2-3 times a week. More if you can. In time, you’ll find that your muscles are stronger and more flexible. Allowing you to do more than just lift heaving weights. It will enable you to excel in other sports and activities with a lot less chance of getting injured. The opposite is also true if you are primarily a Yoga practitioner. Try to incorporate some weight lifting into your exercise routine. Again, 2-3 times per week. You’ll also find that you will have a far easier time maintaining poses and having less chance of injury.
