Namaste,
I am trying to put on some more muscle so ive started a weight training routine. What I wanted to know is whether that would negatively affect my practice. I know that weight lifting tightens the muscles thereby making one less flexible. Is that true? Im mainly trying to work my shoulders and biceps. Interestingly however, im finding that i cannot lift very heavy, which is strange for me considering that i can actually do a headstand, handstand and many arm balances. Does anyone have any idea why that is? I mean, if i can lift my own body weight, shouldnt i be able to lift heavier? Feedback is greatly appreciated! Blessings to all!
I’ve heard a lot of people say that weight training made them less flexible. Then again, I know a lot who didn’t experiance this side effect. If you’re doing regular stretching (such as yoga) you should be fine.
As far as the low amount of weight that you can lift, I’ve had the same problem many times in trying different types of exercise. A lot of strength doesn’t transfer over from one action (handstand) to another (lifting) as well as you’d like. Similarly, if you trained just weight lifting and lifted your bodyweight in iron over your head, doesn’t mean that you could also do a handstand. I’m not precisely sure why this is, but I’d guess it’s something to do with using different angles and leverage on your muscles. Also some of the muscles that are now needed to be strong may have previously gone untrained.
The best sollution is to train specifically for your own needs. If you’re trying to strengthen your shoulders and biceps for use in asana, then those asana poses will be the best way of building the necessary strength. Or if you’re trying to simply be able to lift heavy things, then weights will serve that purpose.
Whatever you do, don’t try and lift what you think you should be able to do (that will cause injury), just lift what you safely can and gradually increase it over time.
Hi, I’ve been doing yoga and weights for years. As Aaron stated it takes a little while for your existing strength to transfer over to the new demands. Like any form of exercise, make sure that you stretch afterwards.
Also diet is important, if you want to build strength then you need to feed the body correctly so it can repair and strengthen your muscles.
[quote=mikesbytes;12537]Hi, I’ve been doing yoga and weights for years. As Aaron stated it takes a little while for your existing strength to transfer over to the new demands. Like any form of exercise, make sure that you stretch afterwards.
Also diet is important, if you want to build strength then you need to feed the body correctly so it can repair and strengthen your muscles.[/quote]
Namaste,
Thank you Mikesbytes and Aaron for your responses. Both were very useful.
Mikesbytes, ive changed my diet dramatically since starting to weight train. Im eating alot more protein and every 3 hours. My question for you, or anyone else who might know the answer, is if im weight training and also doing asanas which require the use of my arms (arm balances, handstands, also lots of chataranga) will i need to take breaks from that in order to build muscle? I know that when lifting weights, one should never work the same muscles 2 days in a row so i train every other day however, i do yoga everyday with asanas like the ones i listed above. How should i do this for maximum gains. Should i do my vigorous yoga practice on days i lift, days i dont lift, or everyday is ok?
Working out every other day is a good guideline, but not always necessary.
It depends on the intensity of your workout. If you push your muscles until failure, yes you will need 48 hours (sometimes more) for them to recover and grow.
If the intensity is lowered a bit, most people can safely exercise daily.
I suggest you pay more attention to how you feel than to guidelines. You may need more rest, or you may need less.
Yes you will need to listen to your body. If you were just a weight lifter, then you could afford a full 48 hours between sessions to allow for maximum muscle repair and strengthening. As a cross trainer you will not have the luxury of such long rests between exercise.
Namaste and thank you both for your responses again.
Im not sure how to know if im working my muscles until failure. I feel a burning sensation in my arm muscles during my work out, sweat alot and do have to work pretty hard during hand stands, however, i dont ever feel like its too much. How do you know if you have pushed yourself to your limit during yoga?
By saying “until failure” I was reffering to the point where you can physically do no more. Doing repetitions until you fail to complete the last one.
My assumption is that if you’ve been doing yoga daily for some time is that you wont have any trouble doing weights also but the amount of weight training that you’ll be able to do is something you’ll have to figure out for yourself.