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Tags: health, wellness, bodybuilding, muscle fitness
 A large number of people recognize the health benefits of yoga. The benefits of yoga are in fact holistic- from the physical down to the mental and emotional aspects. Yoga is also a spiritual practice which cultivates the spirit. But many people may not be aware of yet another amazing benefit of yoga- muscle fitness.
People are usually under the notion that muscle fitness is gained out of weight lifting alone. But muscle fitness is actually more than gaining muscles and bulking them up. Muscle fitness most of all is about strong and healthy muscles. Muscles which endure and are of good condition. What does yoga have to do with muscle fitness? Yoga can undoubtedly improve muscle fitness.
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Muscle strength increases with constant practice of yoga. This is because the body provides the resistance when doing so. Yoga may not necessarily bulk up the muscles, but it strengthens them. Studies have been done proving so. Among them is one conducted at the University of California at Davis. The subjects were 10 college couch potatoes.
They adopted a yoga routine for eight weeks to see if it really is effective for muscle fitness. Each week the subjects attended 2 to 4 yoga classes. They spent 15 minutes for warm up exercises and 10 minutes for breath control. They rendered 50 minutes for the yoga asanas and 10 minutes for relaxation or meditation.
When the eight week period culminated, experts measured the subjects’ muscle fitness. They were able to obtain a 31% increase in their muscular strength. Muscular endurance for the subjects was up by 57% and their flexibility improved by 188%. As for their cardio respiratory fitness, it had an improvement of 7%.
These are quite amazing results considering the study was done for merely 8 weeks. Yoga does seem so benign to many. How can it actually have a major impact on muscle fitness? Yoga poses are generally done very slowly. One often stays in a posture for several breaths. This makes for one having to hold a pose for a time and to move slowly.
This is quite challenging for the muscles and as such, it can provide muscle fitness. Take the case of yoga postures such as the Tree pose and the Shoulderstand. Doing them takes enormous muscle control. This flexes the muscles which in turn promote muscle fitness. The yoga practice can also help to realign the muscles.
That way, they become more balanced. One is also less likely to get injured as not any specific muscle group is overworked. In weight training, a specific muscle is isolated as an exercise is performed. This would lead to a short, tightened muscle. But yoga, it boosts muscle fitness in another way.
Muscles developed during the yoga practice tend to be elongated. While one strengthens the muscles, they are being lengthened as well. Doing yoga does not make one focus on an isolated muscle. Rather, the small muscle groups are put to work as well. The entire body is actually worked up.
Yoga then is effective for a fitness regimen. Whether it is a primary exercise for strength training or just a supplement, one gains from yoga in more ways than one.
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About the author
The author of this article Rose Windale is a Health and Wellness Coach who has been successful with several natural health programs for many years. Rose recently published a step-by-step guide on how to lose weight the EASY way and become totally healthy and happy. More info on her life-changing eating habits plan HERE.
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