Is Yoga More Effective Than the Gym? Here’s What You Need to Know!

Health, wellness and fitness are what occupy attention, space and focus today. The reasons are not hard to find – poor nutrition, hectic work schedules, mental or physical conditions, sedentary habits, stress, substance abuse, fad diets, over-dependence on social media, the rise of new disease outbreaks and more. 

While it’s tempting to indulge in nostalgia and bemoan the good ol’ days, the fact is that physical activity has taken a back seat in modern times. We have elevators, escalators, moving ramps, and various means of transport to help us get from A to B. That’s why we need to consciously incorporate physical movement and exercise into our daily lives. The lack of activity leads to a plethora of physical and mental issues. 

There are different schools of thought regarding activities such as yoga or gymming. Each is advantageous or appropriate in its own way. 

Why Is Exercise Important?

Physical activity is not a one-size-fits-all concept. It differs according to age, health status, motivation, convenience, environment and socio-economic status. The main thing is that some type of physical activity/exercise is crucial to your health and strength. Activities release “good hormones” that elevate your mood. 

Exercise is different from exertion – we assume that because we do housework, or are on our feet all day, that’s exercise. Exercise is an activity that is specifically designed to boost your normal level of movement with the specific aim of sustaining and improving your fitness, stamina and health. You may want to lose weight, tone your body, feel energetic, and improve brain-health, memory and sleep. 

Yoga and Gym: A Quick Overview

Let’s take a look at yoga : It is a more holistic approach that combines physical, mental and spiritual aspects. It focuses on mindfulness, diet, lifestyle, calmness, relaxation, breathing, flexibility, balance and more. It can be an individual or group activity, and doesn’t need specialized environments or equipment apart from certain basics. Yoga can be practiced at any age. You need an experienced and trained instructor and a quiet space to practice – and you need to make sure you have the right equipment. There are many yoga and wellness companies that offer a great range of yoga equipment including mats, bolsters and stretch straps. Find the right yoga equipment for you including yoga straps from Rest and Digest on their website.

In the gym, the focus is on more intense and targeted workouts with a specific goal such as weight-loss, muscle or stamina building, power or stress-busting. Gyms are purpose-built spaces that contain a variety of specialised equipment. Gym instructors are specially trained, licensed and experienced in the physical fitness field. Your instructor will also guide you with instructions about diet and lifestyle. 

Which To Choose?

You may wonder whether to choose yoga or gymming. In fact, there’s nothing to prevent you from taking up both! The deciding factor should be which one aligns more with your wellness and fitness goals. 

As far as being “effective” goes, both yoga and gymming can fulfill this concept. The vital difference is what you personally mean by effective. 

If your aim is to lose weight quickly, sculpt your body, tone your muscles and develop your endurance, regular gymming is the route to choose. Here you will be guided by experienced instructors who will ensure that your goals are achieved in a controlled manner without risk to your health.

Gymming is great for that instant mood boost and you get to meet like-minded people. The gym is also a place where several different types of activities happen – these may include aerobics, dance-exercise, Pilates, cardio workouts, strength and weight training, Zumba, spinning and more. You can focus on core-training, abs, tummy, arms, legs or back. Specific exercises are designed to work out each set of muscles. 

If a structured and specially designed environment that focuses on physical exercise appeals to you, the gym is a good choice. 

With yoga, the approach is more integrated and comprehensive. There is a calibrated approach to the practice, and it involves your whole system. While you can have specific goals such as weight loss, prevention or treatment of specific health conditions, dealing with stress and anxiety, yoga aims to deal with all these in a more comprehensive and inclusive way. 

Regular practice is essential to maintain flexibility, emotional connectedness, physical and mental relaxation and calmness. The advantage is that you can practice in the comfort of your own home or personal space, without the need for special equipment. Though the ancients did recommend certain optimum times for practice, today most people practice according to their own schedules.  In the final analysis, there need not be an either-or approach to yoga and gymming. You can pick and choose to put together an exercise regime that best suits your preferences, needs and budget.