Cross Train with Yoga to cultivate a strong, yet resilient body and mind!

Add yoga into the mix to vary your current fitness regimen, challenge your body in new ways and calm your mind. CAC offers 7 yoga classes per week, from Vinyasa and Forrest Yoga to Yogalates, a class that includes both yoga and Pilates-based exercises. kThere are so many physical and mental benefits of practicing this amazing discipline that has been around for thousands of years. Here are a few:

* Yoga postures (asanas) aid in creating a healthy, balanced body that is less prone to injuries.  Asanas encourage balance between opposing muscle groups throughout the body while strengthening muscles that are weak and increasing the flexibility of muscles that are very tight. You may find certain postures beneficial for stretching the muscles surrounding the hips after a long run along the Charles, and others helpful for stretching the muscles of the shoulders before hitting the court.

* Yoga can improve your posture and increase your self-awareness.  Each person is different, with his/her own strengths, weaknesses, and limitations.  Through yoga, you become more aware of your body and its habitual tendencies while learning safe, effective ways to strengthen and stretch muscles surrounding all of the joints in the body.

* Yoga allows you to work safely and effectively within your range of motion by focusing on your body and breath in the moment rather than on an external goal.  Since you don't have to worry about sinking that shot, winning the match or beating your previous time, you can slow down, focus on proper alignment and connect with your breath as you challenge your muscles.   (Note:  "Slowing down" does not necessarily mean "easier" as far as physical exertion and mental focus is concerned!!)

* Yoga helps to quiet the mind and allows you to react to stressful situations with more calmness and ease, whether mental stress inherent in our daily lives or physical stress inside or outside of the gym. Our minds are constantly in flux thinking about all of the activities we have yet to cross off our "to do" list.  By focusing on your mind on something repetitive - in this case, the breath as you flow through your yoga practice - you train your mind to focus on the present rather than worry about the past or the future.  When you leave the studio to once again conquer your "to do" list, you may find that you do so with greater clarity and a more relaxed approach.

With a consistent practice, all of these benefits (and more!) can ultimately have a positive effect your other physical activities, even those requiring split second reaction times!  In fact, more and more athletes are experiencing the benefits of incorporating yoga into their training.  Check out this great video about how Tim Thomas, Bruins’ goalie, practices yoga to enhance his performance on the ice:
http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=25330.