Beyond meditation: 5 reasons to include yoga in your sports routine

Although too many the 'asanas' (postures) may seem relaxed and even ridiculous, yoga is a discipline that requires strength, balance and concentration. In fact, more and more people have seen in this millenary practice the perfect ally to work body and mind, becoming a real 'boom' that even has its own international day (June 21). Perhaps the fame is due to the fact that this physical activity produces enormous physical and mental benefits in those who practice it or, perhaps, because it is a discipline of progressive demands that allows anyone, regardless of their physical capacity, to start in a modality that, little by little, requires greater physical dexterity to achieve perfection.

1. Promotes weight loss

The muscular activity that is carried out through the asanas burns fewer calories than if, for example, we are pedaling at a good pace on roads for an hour. However, with the calmer variants almost 300 kcal are spent , although with hot yoga (activities that are carried out in rooms heated at about 40 ºC) almost 600 can be consumed. Of course, like any sport, yoga does not lose weight if it is not accompanied by a healthy and varied diet, with a great presence of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Most of the fitness experts still consider yoga very beneficial for weight loss.

2. Strengthens the heart

According to various studies, this practice helps to minimize vascular stress, hypertension and also lowers blood cholesterol levels, which can reduce the risk of heart disease or improve said pathologies if they are already suffered.

3. Increases elasticity

One of the advantages of the 'asanas' is that they invite you to adopt unusual positions that force you to wake up muscles and ligaments, while taking a slow breath. The result? A gradual increase in flexibility. In addition, the postures can help to exercise awareness about our own body and its movements, thus improving our balance.

4. Improves concentration

People who do this practice have to make an effort to synchronize the movements with their breathing , which entails mindfulness. Thus, through these exercises, concentration and even mental agility can be greatly improved.

5. Reduce stress

Reaching full relaxation is the goal of any 'yogi' once they start their routine. For this reason, the practice of this sport helps reduce stress and anxiety, because during the time it is carried out it is essential to put all five senses in each movement.