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Sun Salutation: Adding Yoga to Your Workout

Written by O2 Fitness | Sep 06, 2013

Written by: Alexandra Travis, Personal Trainer, O2 Fitness Carrboro

Most people have heard of yoga and are familiar with the long list of health benefits that come with regular practice.  For centuries, yogis have boasted such benefits as increased flexibility, improved posture, lowered blood pressure, increased bone density, relief from arthritis and other joint pains, and heightened mood, just to name a few.

 

Luckily, adding yoga to your workout routine is easy!  There is always time for yoga, even for those of us with an established exercise regimen or a tight gym schedule.  Let's start with a basic yoga term.

Vinyasa:

Vinyasa is a sanskrit term that refers to a series of yoga poses interlinked to form a continuous flow of movement.

Sun Salutation:

One of the simplest and most effective yoga sequences is a vinyasa known as the Sun Salutation. Sun Salutation makes a great addition to any workout routine, serving as warm up or cool down, or is a good stretch after a jog.

Tips for getting started:

  • Start slow. Once you get a feel for the flow you can heat things up by picking up the pace.
  • Listen to your body. This is especially important if you are new to yoga.  When done safely, the resulting benefits are undeniable, but pushing beyond your limits can result in injury.
  • Don't forget to breathe! Sounds silly, but trust me...
  • Have fun!
  • Visit an O2 Fitness Yoga class to learn more!