By If we take yoga as a way of exercising the body, it should be noted that there are some differences between the asanas (postures of hatha yoga) and other forms of physical exercises. The asanas in classic yoga are unhurried and meditative (the definition of asana is a posture that is maintained for a period of time), although vinyasas as sun salutations are dynamic sequences which also work for the cardiovascular system. Being positions that stimulate the entire system and so complete these poses are, they constitute a comprehensive form of practical physics that transcends the physical body and positively affects the mind.
Everybody is different and if you need to supplement yoga with other forms of more vigorous exercise, it is fine and workable. My advice is that asanas should prevail and not anything that is opposite to them. Just quickly look at the differences between each other, and you will see that the practice of asanas is a much more balanced, complete and harmonious exercise.
Health yoga is the result of a lifestyle. The essential difference is that yoga has a holistic concept of health and take body as a part of our being, concatenated with our mental and spiritual aspects. The hatha yoga purifies, heals and strengthens the body so we have more peace of mind and can look its ingrowth. Physical culture does not consider the relationship of material wellbeing with the other dimensions of our being.
The main objective of physical culture within our cult of the body and the rule of the image is having a slim and muscular figure, although there are also intentions to increase health, which are usually in the second place. In yoga, the physical body is not our only identity, but one aspect of our being through which we love, care and evolve bit by bit. The beauty and youth like health are for yoga as the result of a balanced lifestyle in all of the aspects. An attractive and vital body is the natural result of a harmonious body and mind.
As a complete system that seeks the integral well-being, yoga is aimed at developing the mental faculties and intellectuals such as concentration, attention to mental processes, mental alertness, equanimity and inner peace. Physical culture, moreover, is part of this era of hyperstimulation and generates the stimulation in mind with its intensity.
In this vein, yoga prevents violent movements for the reason that they cause muscle fatigue, stiffness and pain potentially carrying serous health risks. By contrast, physical culture promotes exercising muscles to the extreme to promote muscle development. While a strong body usually goes hand in hand with a healthy body and muscle development alone does not represent health. This implies an optimal functioning of all the organs of the body and a healthy mind.
Physical exercise is usually an aerobic exercise which increases circulation character through increased heart rate. However, this can make the heart work too much and fast. The asanas in yoga stimulate heart function and cardiovascular system by less aggressive means through stretching the flow of blood through the veins which is stimulated, and inverted postures return blood to the heart. All this practice of yoga strengthens and stretches the heart, increasing the volume of the blood circulating in the body.
Yoga prevents muscle fatigue with proper breathing, slow and controlled exercises and relaxation. Relaxation is a major key part of the practice of asanas in the traditional yoga to compensate for the absence of oxygen. When muscles do not have enough oxygen, the lactic acid builds up and there is pain and fatigue in the body. Yoga works the muscles in full and it takes into account all the aspects that influence muscle work such as stretching, warming and oxygen consumption rate of the exercise. This maintains healthy muscles, pain and prevents injuries that can become acute with age.
In addition to this, asanas also maintain the elasticity of the muscles, keep the flexibility of the spine and joints, promote elasticity of arteries and ensure the supply of the blood throughout the body with proper flow.
You can see here that physical exercises truly focus the outward approach and make a person look good from outside only. It does not have much positive effect on the spirituality of the people. In the case of yoga, we can see that it focuses both physical as well as spiritual existence of its practitioners and complexly remove any signs of negativity. In addition, it also motivates to take life with a proper objective. In conclusion, we can say that yoga is a complete program without any flaws.
