Yoga

Is yoga good for you?

The word yoga is derived from 'yuj' which means 'connection' in Sanskrit. It will not surprise you that yoga is intended to achieve a deeper state of meditation to create a connection between body and mind. Through a combination of breathing exercises, concentration exercises, and physical exercises, you can train yourself to better cope with stress and become calmer. During yoga, you are not only doing well physically, but you will also become more flexible emotionally and mentally. The exercises you do during yoga give you strength and energy, and also provide a feeling of relaxation. Yoga helps to bring your mind into balance and reduce emotional pressure.

Core work-out

Although you might not think so at first, yoga also has a very positive effect on the body! Yoga strengthens the muscles, tightens the abdomen, and can reduce cellulite, sounds good, right? Additionally, with yoga, you can improve your body posture by learning to relax and control your breathing better. Yoga also makes the body more flexible! During yoga, you lengthen and strengthen the muscles, reducing the risk of injuries in sports such as soccer, running, and hockey.

Yoga for beginners

Many people have heard of yoga, but are unaware that there are different types of yoga. If you want to join a yoga class at the gym, you can often choose from styles such as hatha yoga, bikram yoga, and vinyasa yoga.

Is yoga a sport?

Yoga is definitely a sport! It is not surprising that you need special yoga clothing and accessories to practice this sport effectively. This includes comfortable clothing that allows for sufficient freedom of movement. During yoga, you put your body in different positions, so you naturally want everything to stay in place! A good yoga mat is also essential. Many gyms have a supply of yoga mats that you can use, but it is hygienic to have your own yoga mat! Additionally, you can choose a yoga mat with the best features for you, allowing you to perform all different yoga poses well and confidently.

Why yoga?

Yoga has many benefits, and many yogis have various motivations to practice this sport. This includes learning to relax better, breathe more freely, or improve balance. But also having more time for yourself, greater awareness of your body, and developing more spirituality are reasons to do yoga. It is also common for general practitioners or physiotherapists to recommend taking regular yoga classes to become more flexible or better control your body.

Difference between pilates and yoga

Although both pilates and yoga focus on awareness of the body, with posture and breathing forming the basis of both sports, there are also some differences! In yoga, a class often consists of a fixed series of yoga exercises that you hold alternately, while in pilates, a class consists of multiple dynamic movements. The approach of the sports is also different. During a yoga class, the focus is mainly on the balance between body and mind, while in pilates, the focus is on executing the different poses correctly. Despite some differences, there are also similarities! Yoga clothing, for example, is also very suitable to wear during pilates, as comfort and freedom of movement are essential for both. And just like for yoga, you also need a sports mat for pilates. If you do pilates on a hard surface, you will need a mat with a thickness of about 1cm. But if you do pilates on a soft surface, such as carpet, a mat of 0.4cm is sufficient!