Incorporating yoga with gym

Physical fitness is vital to people’s health and well-being. It helps them function efficiently in work, sports and leisure activities. 

It also improves their mood and mental functioning and reduces their risks for various diseases.

When it comes to achieving optimal physical fitness, most people either do gym workouts or practice yoga. “Yoga and gym are two variations of exercise and both aim for different purposes and are designed with deep thoughts and analysis,” says Sonia Bajaj, an independent Fitness expert and nutritionist in the city.

“Yoga concentrates on body postures, breathing pattern and is a controlled and centralised form of workout. It includes the asana, pranayama, meditation, yama and niyama,” says Dr Bimal Chajjer, Health and Lifestyle expert from Science and Art of Living. 

Whereas, “Gym workouts typically involve cardio and weight-training exercises. They are aided by different equipment that targets one’s specific fitness goals.
Treadmills and steppers, for instance, are designed for a paceful burning of calories, while free weights and resistance bands are used to tone and strengthen muscles,” says Neelakanteshwar Rao, another independent gym instructor and fitness expert.

Though yoga and gym help us stay fit and healthy, their benefits, however, differ from one person to another. Dr Chajjer says “A gym session can make you feel tired and hungry while yoga revitalises and helps in digestion.” 

However, Rao states that while yoga has its distinct pluses, barring the odd expectations, it doesn’t provide the cardio-vascular benefits, which are vitally important for all human beings. He adds, “Fat loss and weight loss is not achieved through yoga, they are derived through cardio activities.”

Meanwhile, for an ideal result one can implement the combination of both in their routine. Recently, health experts have been working on a combined form of exercise sessions. 

As Bajaj says,“Yoga helps in stretching and flexibility which is beneficial in gym,” adding, “Certain Yoga postures require strength of shoulders and upper body, which can be attained from weight training.”

Adopting a workout regimen is a part of healthy lifestyle but “learning on your own and, lack of appropriate knowledge and relevant guidance, might cause spinal health disorders,” cautions Dr Satnam Singh Chhabra, director, department of Neuro & Spine Surgery, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. 

Thus for a healthy and fit lifestyle, it is advisable to workout under an experienced gym instructor and yoga practitioner who set the prescribed limits according to the various body types.