Lack of Cross-Training and External Load in Yoga

19 Feb Lack of Cross-Training and External Load in Yoga

One of the issues with only practicing yoga is that it can create a scenario for the joints to become overloaded and underloaded at the same time.

Most people who practice yoga are not strong enough to bear their own body weight, and their joints may not be accustomed to the loads and movements required.

Overloading the joints that are not equipped to handle that load can cause pain and injury.

Our AY Firma class solves this problem by incorporating external loading with a small and adjustable aquaball. This allows for progressive overload as our students can choose a resistance level that their joints can safely handle.

As their tissues become stronger and more adapted, they can increase the load overtime until they are strong enough to practice with their own bodyweight.

Another issue with the lack of external loading in modern postural yoga is that there are no opportunities to load in the direction of pulling.

This leads to an imbalance where students become stronger in the pushing directions of movement and weaker in the pulling directions of movement.

As a result, tissues are underloaded, increasing the risk of pain and injury.

Cross training with resistance exercises and Pilates helps. The external loading and pulling movements incorporated in our AY Firma class reduce the negative effects of overloading and underloading in yoga.