If you have no stress in your life, feel great all the time, always sleep well, and can remain perfectly focused on the task at hand, don’t bother reading this post.
But for the rest of us non-superhumans, we may want to keep reading.
Here at CBRC, you can lift all the weights you want.
You can run as far as you want.
You can swim, bike, dance, play basketball, tennis, racquetball.
These are just some of the benefits you get by being a member. We want to provide you with as many ways to be healthy as we can.
But being strong and running long distances are not the only measures of health.
Your mental, emotional, and spiritual health are important as well.
And that’s why we offer yoga.
Many people, when the conversation turns to yoga, immediately dismiss it. It’s something for “those weirdos” to do, but is totally irrelevant in my life.
But that’s because they don’t really understand what it is, or what it’s purpose is.
So, before you dismiss it out of hand, why not give it a shot?
A recent study shows that people who do yoga have a smaller chance of having hypertension, and are at reduced risk for stroke and diabetes.
People who do yoga regularly tend to sleep better, breathe better, have less aches and pains, and have better pain management.
Possibly the biggest difficulty people have with yoga is that we have a hard time being still.
In our culture we tend to be very productivity driven. We always have to be “doing” something.
That’s why it’s so much easier for us to lift weights and run when we’re at the gym. Because we’re being active and doing something.
So mentally, it’s hard to get into a pose and sit there.
But the poses you will do in yoga will help increase your strength and flexibility, sometimes as much as other workout programs will.
And depending on the type of yoga, it could also be a great way to lose weight.
We wrote about Buti yoga last year. In case you missed it, you can catch up here.
There is also Yin yoga, which builds mobility, flexibility, and is a great complement to other workouts.
You may do Ayenguar yoga, which is great for beginners. Here, you spend more time focusing on body alignment. You spend more time with each pose, giving you the opportunity to get it right.
Power yoga has more dynamic movement. More sweat, more effort. It’s a great workout in itself.
Which type of yoga is best for you? You’ll just have to come and find out. There’s no wrong way to go.
By the way, one of our yoga teachers, Chastity Garcia, is leading a yoga workshop on February 4th. It’s called a sound healing workshop. She uses sound generated by special made quartz crystal bowls to provide deep relaxation and concentration.
If you’re interested, ask for details at the front desk. It’s always very popular, and if you wait too long, you might not be able to get in.
Whether you go to the workshop or not, you should come give yoga a try.
You’ll be glad you did.
We wish you good health,
Columbia Basin Racquet Club