27 April Wendy Boyce April 27, 2016 Yoga vs. Fitness Fitness, Yoga Fitness, Yoga 1 Comment Get out of the box: Yoga vs. fitness – Are you achieving your absolute best? If you would have asked me ten years ago – “Do you prefer yoga or fitness?” I would have said, without hesitation, “yoga”. That’s it, end of story. Fitness wasn’t even on my radar (Ok, maybe for a little while in college I got into circuit training, but it never got very serious.) I hear similar conversations frequently in the studio and outside the studio, with responses such as – “I’m a yoga person” or “I’m a fitness person” or “I only do yoga” or “I only docrossfit” or “I only do spinning classes”. This makes me cringe (because I used to say this), and in my experience, this phrase made me sound a bit fanatical (which is somewhat true) and put me in a very tiny box - for a 6 ft. tall socially energetic individual, the space was very cramped. Something happened about four years ago, a studio where I taught yoga also offered high energy weight lifting classes, and barre classes. I made the decision to get out of the confines of my box and I try those classes. To my surprise, I ended up loving them! About the same time, I began to hike and run trails. Me – run? Two words I never thought would be in the same sentence! I felt myself getting stronger, and my body was certainly changing – more muscle tone (in the places I was needing it the most), greater cardiovascular strength, and overall more energy. I had fewer to no injuries. I felt empowered. What had taken me so long? It was that phrase I kept telling myself and others – “I’m a yoga person”. Now that I’ve taken that phrase out of my vocabulary, I am liberated. An abundance of health and fitness modalities are now at my disposal!I feel more balanced in my body than ever. I have reached fitness goals I never knew I had, and happily I no longer have injuries (my knees – from continuously stretching my joints and ligaments without strengthening them properly, and my wrists especially – now that I’ve rescued them from the constant stress and strain of vinyasa). Along with the yoga classes (Hot Yoga, Flow Yoga, and Power Flow) at SunstoneFIT I now I teach and take Barre, CoreFIT and CardioFIT, and regularly take HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). The students at Sunstone have noticed the changes in class repertoire the last year or so. At first students were skeptical of these changes and many openly complained. I have seen and heard a shift in this behavior. Those students that only used to do Fire90 (You know who you are - I used to be one of them) are now trying the other classes or have been doing them for a while. These students are now raving about the changes that are occurring in their bodies. Are there goals you may not know you have the power to achieve? This is the main focus at SunstoneFIT. We want to provide a safe environment for you to get outside of your box, your comfort zone, and achieve your absolute best body, mind, and attitude. What is holding you back? Now when people ask what I prefer, I reply, “Everything, I am a whole body person. I seek to challenge myself mentally and physically and, above all, have the best life experience possible. I still love practicing yoga and gratefully do so whenever possible. But I am no longer afraid to get outside of that stuffy old box and try something new. I urge you to do the same, who knows, you may even like it and the potential it will bring! Related Articles Who Does Yoga? – Breaking Through Dallas’ Hot Yoga Myths Yoga has been around for thousands of years, but it’s still a very misunderstood form of exercise in America. Misconceptions about yoga, most especially Dallas hot yoga, are still, (sadly) widespread in the West. Here are a few of the most far-reaching yoga myths. You have to be in perfect shape if you want to do yoga. Don’t Settle for “Gym Yoga” – Dallas Hot Yoga is a Cut Above Gym Yoga Do you know what the difference is between “gym yoga” and Dallas hot yoga? When you take a yoga class at the gym, you may get a sub-par experience that leaves you disappointed. Gym classes are designed for the broadest audience, and sometimes even taught by instructors with no certification and little experience. Yoga Tips for Beginners: What To Know Before Your First Yoga Class Yoga Tips for Beginners: What To Know Before Your First Yoga Class If you’ve been thinking about getting into shape, you may have considered taking a yoga class. Yoga can be a great way to either get in shape or maintain your level of fitness. It builds strength and flexibility while simultaneously allowing you to focus on your breathing. By practicing yoga, you learn how to control your breathing, even during some rather challenging poses. This in turn helps you in virtually every other area of your life, as it allows you to remain calm and stay in control of your emotions. Yoga also helps you become more in tune with yourself. Therefore, you have the chance to reap both physical and mental benefits of practicing it. Here are some top yoga tips for beginners: Advantages of Hot Yoga: 5 Ways Hot Yoga Helps Insomnia The advantages of hot yoga are many and varied… and one of hot yoga’s most surprising benefits is that it can alleviate insomnia. Insomnia can be caused by stress, anxiety and depression, a lack of physical activity, diet, or imbalances in body chemistry. Yoga, especially hot yoga, can address all of these concerns. Yoga Teacher Training: Transformational Learning at Sunstone Yoga Academy Is yoga teacher training right for you? Even basic yoga training can change your life. Whether you want to open your own studio or just take your yoga practice to the next level, Sunstone Yoga Academy can help you open up to the world around you. Our Yoga Academy is for people who are passionate about yoga and growing their practice—we’re not just looking for people who want to teach yoga! Pilates vs Yoga Pilates vs Yoga – Which is Right for You? Since I was given the opportunity of growing up overseas as a Missionary girl; I learned at a young age to value the art of learning to understand where concepts originated from – so that would include the practice of Pilates or Yoga. I can share with you what I have learned so far and maybe you might be able to add something of value to your own experiences and journey. Comments are closed.