Why Everyone Needs to Stop Saying Yoga Doesn't Count as a Workout

Here’s the thing that the mainstream world doesn’t understand about yoga: All yoga doesn’t revolve around gentle stretches, chants, and seated meditation. There’s a general misconception that yoga will make you flexible and limber but not fit and strong, when in fact yoga is the perfect way to balance out your strength with your flexibility. Have you ever stepped into a power yoga class? You’ll be dripping sweat within minutes. Have you watched an ashtangi yogi flow through his or her series with the ease of a feather? It’s not enough to do a difficult arm balance—it must be lowered into from an inversion. Practice 90 minutes of vinyasa flow—it will make burpees feel like a vacation. SO true! I always hear people complain about burpees, and as yogi - I love them!  A ‘vinyasa’ is a common small sequence of postures used to link poses and keep the student’s fire building; imagine doing planks and push ups over and over and over again. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had super fit athletes come into my class who are at the top of their game —but DIE in class. (Hello Cross Fitters and Marathoners who are dead 10 minutes into my class). It doesn’t mean they lack the strength—it’s simply a new form of awareness and way of moving their bodies. Of course, I'm not saying that other forms of exercise, like lifting or running, should be tossed out - not at all. Just understand that yoga isn’t a day off from working out (unless you are doing a restorative form of yoga). You can use yoga as a way to balance out your regular routines, but the yoga practice will 100-percent count as your daily activity to sweat and take care of your body. Like anything, you’ll have to fully dedicate yourself to the practice and show up on a regular basis, but yes: Yoga will make you fit, strong, limber, and—the major bonus—emotionally and spiritually improved.