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(Return to
Mindfulness off the Mat list)
The benefits of exercise are many
and far-ranging. It can help reduce disease risk; it can help moderate blood
pressure and lipid levels (cholesterol); it can lessen the symptoms of mild
depression and enhance energy levels; it can improve posture, strengthen the
back, and promote increased bone density; it is an essential component in
weight management and helps us retain lean muscle mass as we age. When
performed under a doctor’s supervision and using appropriate adaptations,
exercise can help a woman experience a healthier pregnancy, as well as a
faster recovery following the delivery. Exercise reduces stress, and helps
in promoting alertness and concentration. When designed appropriately, it
can also help improve functional movement for those with arthritis, and is
an important tool in the treatment of diabetes. Exercise can even help
counter the negative effects of smoking. In short, there is virtually no
aspect of living that is not in some way potentially affected in a positive
way by exercise.
Yoga, of course, is but one
shining example of exercise. Depending on the style of yoga and the level of
experience by the practitioner, yoga ranges from an activity of
predominantly flexibility training to a combination of flexibility training
and some highly demanding strength training. Most of us fall somewhere in
between the two extremes. It should be pointed out that yoga alone may or
may not provide enough strength training for your body’s needs; some will
benefit from augmenting their yoga with some additional muscle-toning
movements. For example, a pair of light hand-held weights can go a long way
in providing additional upper-body strength without “bulking” the muscles,
and much of the lower body can be effectively toned with nothing more than
some basic calisthenic exercises.
The one type of exercise not
satisfied by yoga—no matter how convincing the sales pitch--is aerobics, or
cardiovascular training. Even when performed rigorously, yoga is more
anaerobic than aerobic, a distinction which is fodder for another article.
Fortunately, all you need to do to fill this aerobic void is to embark on a
walking program; the minimum recommendation involves just three, 30-minute
sessions per week.
So, if “burning the fat” means
nothing to you as motivation to get moving, remember that there’s more to
exercise than meets the infomercial-weary eye! Õ
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