9 Reasons Yoga Can Be a Great Cross-Training Practice

I’m both a yoga teacher and a personal trainer. I love lifting weights, doing burpees (not kidding) and everything about yoga. I’m often surprised at the lack of crossover between the yoga and fitness communities I work and play in, because I happen to think that they compliment each other quite nicely.

1. IT INCREASES FLEXIBILITY & MOBILITY

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but flexibility relates to the length of your muscles while mobility encompasses the way your joints move. You don’t have to be flexible or have great mobility to do yoga, but yoga will help you get better overall range of motion with time.

This means more ease when it comes to maintaining good form for things like squats, deadlifts, and overhead presses, as well as decreased risk of injury. Score!  

2. IT CAN HELP YOU GET STRONGER

For most of us, when we think about building strength, the first thing that comes to mind is lifting weights. But many yoga poses, especially when held for a longer duration, can help build strength and stability in the joints.

If you are used to always working out with equipment or at a fast pace, slowing down and using only your own body weight can be a great challenge and help you work your muscles in a new way.

3. IT’S A GREAT OPTION FOR AN “OFF” DAY

I can’t be the only person who has a hard time taking a rest day right? For those of us who love to work out, it can be tempting to push through a gym session or our favorite class because it sounds like a better alternative than doing nothing at all.

Yoga can be a great option for those days when you want to move your body but aren’t sure that you want to go hardcore. Many poses also feel really good when you are dealing with sore muscles.

4. IT CAN HELP YOU AVOID INJURIES AND BURNOUT FROM OVERTRAINING

You know that feeling you get when you’ve been crushing your fitness goals and then all of a sudden you find yourself struggling to even get out of bed? You start getting sick more often, feel cranky, tired, and have stubborn injuries that just won’t heal?

A restorative yoga class might be just the thing you need to start recovering better and calm your stress hormones. I mean, just because running is your favorite workout doesn’t mean your body wants to do it seven days a week.

5. IT HELPS YOU GET YOUR BREATHING IN CHECK

In yoga there are different breathing techniques (pranayama) you can use to warm or cool your body or just help yourself to feel more calm. These can be translated into other fitness endeavors, and help you prepare yourself physically and mentally for a competitive event.

Breath is also an essential component when it comes to all kinds of strength training. Getting better at using it to your advantage might just help you hit a new PR.

6. IT HELPS YOU DEVELOP GOOD BODY AWARENESS

Yes, in a yoga class you might be asked to hold a position for a really long time or lie on the floor and listen to your breathing. But it’s worth it! Because when you have good body awareness you’ll be able to quickly take an alignment correction when you get it from a coach or instructor in another class.

This means you’ll get even better at your favorite activity. And you’re less likely to trip over that stray kettlebell that somebody left in the middle of the gym floor.

7. IT IMPROVES YOUR MINDSET

I like to call this “yoga off the mat”. Yoga philosophy teaches things like focus, mindfulness, contentment, and non-harming. On a physical level this can translate into more effective training sessions and reduced risk of injuries. But it can also bring you more resilience, a more positive outlook on life, and the tendency to take better care of yourself.

8. IT MAKES YOU THE EXPERT ON YOUR OWN BODY

How many times have you been in a situation where a coach with a “no excuses” mentality convinced you to do something that was totally wrong for your body? In my experience, a good yoga teacher will encourage you to listen to your body and find the variation of a pose that suits you best.

When you’re given an environment where you’re encouraged to find what’s best for you, you’ll be more likely to make good (and safe!) choices in other areas of your life.

9. IT CAN BE REALLY FUN!

Yes, some yoga classes are really quiet and serious. But a lot of teachers (like me) keep things really light and fun! I love to crack jokes, create themed playlists, and have yoga “recess” in the middle of class.

When you approach challenging postures with a playful mindset you might just surprise yourself and have a really good time.