Yoga to Compliment…Cardio/HIIT/Metcons.
HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training. You might also have heard the word Metcon in the same sentence, which is similar; metabolic conditioning for the body, think burpees, jumping lunges, side kick throughs, sprinting on the spot, assault bike, rower. All of these raise our heart rate with short periods of intense anaerobic exercise with less intense recovery periods.
So how does YOGA help improve our cardio/HIIT/Metcon workouts?
There are many similarities when it comes to cardio training and yoga and to get the most out of a HIIT class; strength, power, stamina, endurance, balance, mobility and flexibility are all needed for high performance. Yoga has elements of all the above, as each pose and sequence incorporates the use and movement of multiple joints and muscles in various planes of motion aiding in better range of motion translating to:
1. Increased stamina and strengthens the muscles used in these workouts
2. Helps to build balance and flexibility so that we don’t fall over in the middle of a reverse lunge or jump squat!
3. Endurance – the long static holds whilst using our breath in yoga, prepare the body to remain active for longer periods of time
4. Injury prevention – yoga is great for warming up and post workout, helping to stretch and lengthen the muscles keeping them supple
You can see from the photos above that the guys were digging deep, really deep. A competition always bring out the best in us, athletes or not. To set yourself apart from the others, to perform to the best of your ability, it’s crucial that the body has good range of motion, mobility and flexibility, all of which can be achieved with yoga.
Sun salutations are a great complement to cardio as they build strength and endurance as well as help stretch out your muscles. Inversions and backbends are poses that can strengthen and stretch your back and chest muscles. Add 1 or 2 backbends to your routine, following each backbend with an inversion. This can complement your cardio routine by building your endurance and muscle while stretching out muscles tight from exercise. Seated postures help balance out your body after backbends and inversions. They are also an excellent way to stretch out tight muscles from cardio.
