Yoga for Greater Gains in the Gym

Say the word "yoga" and quite a few people will instantly think, "boring", "not masculine", or "that's just stretching". Not a lot of people would think, "a great complement to my lifting routine", which is a shame-- because it most definitely is.

There are many types of yoga, however, and some are more complimentary than others. Some of the faster, more vinyasa flow types will not give you the same benefits for lifting that say a slower, hatha yoga would. So what does this all mean? And why is yoga beneficial for seeing progress in the gym?

When lifting we are pushing, straining and tearing our muscles to make them stronger and bigger. Yoga allows for these muscles to then be stretched and loosened which cuts down on recovery time. It opens your chest, hip flexors and shoulders,  aligns your back, and alleviates the places you feel those twinges and tweaks of everyday stress.

If you're in a spot where you don't have access to machines or weights, yoga can even become your strength training routine. Yoga trains all the muscles in your body in balance with each other, it increases muscle endurance in the holding of poses for longer periods of time and it can lead to a stronger, more impressive physique. 

Still, in  yoga you are limited to your own body weight, so for growing bigger muscles, weight and resistance training are crucial for meeting your goals.

The best regimen? It should include a variety of exercises, including weights, cardio, yoga, and massage or some mix thereof. Don't get stuck in a workout rut--mix things up!