4 Considerations To Get The Most Out Of Your Yoga Practice

If yoga were not a part of my Fitness & Wellness routine, I would probably be a crazy woman. For myself and for many others, making time for yoga is the only time I take for myself to turn inward, get my sweat on, and oh does it replenish!

Some of the benefits of yoga are:

* Improved movement & flexibility

* Strength & posture improvements

* Circulation increase & lymphatic drainage

* Less stress

* Improved concentration

* Improved heart health

* and even relieves chronic medical conditions

While I have the deepest respect for the ancient practice, mind-body connection, and OM in spirit with my fellow yogis, I move and see through the eyes and body of a Strength and Conditioning Coach.

That being said, what I share with you today is to benefit your body first, and as a byproduct, your mind will soar into eternal bliss. That is my hope, anyway, and if you travel on a yogic path, you know or will soon know what I'm talking about.

Last year, I gave workshops based upon my eBook, Yoga For People Who Sit Down All Day, and today I am inspired to share more with you. By the way, yoga always seems to fill me with inspiration and motivation to do things. I am writing this just a few hours after Saturday evening yoga class.

Whether you want to begin a yoga practice or have been practicing for eternity, here are 4 considerations to get the most from your practice:

1. If it feels good...

If the stretch or pose feels amazing, chances are it's not the one you should focus on.

Strength and flexibility improvements are never made by doing things that are easy. Take a few moments in your favorite position to grab the bliss, but spend more time on the ones that stump you and challenge you.

2. Take the road less traveled...

This is very important. Taking the road less traveled means to go the other direction. How do you spend most of your day? If you are in a seated, slumped over position such as at a computer, your road less traveled is one that takes you to a standing, back bending, heart opening place. Conversely, people who stand up all day will want to journey into forward folding and lengthening the muscles in the back of their body.

3. Ask and ye shall receive...

So how does a yoga instructor know what road the students have been traveling all day? They don't! Speak up and request certain stretches, poses, or directions. A quality yoga instructor will adapt to the students and believe me, they love the interaction. Requests invite conversation, create a community environment, and many bodies will benefit. Chances are some of your fellow yogis have been traveling down that same road all day.

4. Try as you will...

There are numerous poses, progressions, and regressions in yoga so you will be challenged. Personally, yoga will be a practice I don't expect to perfect...ever. However, if you are looking for benefits such as an increase in lean muscle mass or fat loss, you will have to do some cross training and tweak your nutrition habits.

It is true that many yoga practitioners look great. This is because of many reasons including yoga. Yoga and other body-weight-only training, will only improve muscle endurance. To gain lean muscle mass thus provide the opportunity to burn more body fat, you must add progressive resistance and you must burn more fuel than consumed.

Our lifestyle has changed over the last 3000 years since the birth of yoga. While our goals for enlightenment and happiness have not changed, the demands on our bodies have. The opportunities to move are less and less with each generation. Each opportunity for exercise should be with a deliberate intent. Consider this and bring my 4 Considerations To Get The Most Out Of Your Yoga Practice with you to your next yoga session, share them with your friends and yoga instructors. They are sure to create conversation.

Coach Jill Rodriguez, Fitness Trainer & Nutrition Coach