Whats better: doing yoga or going to the gym?
It’s not a question of “What” but “How”. The gym’s a great way to maintain physical fitness, providing variety, technical precision, and a social element. However, the Eastern traditions remind us that how we feel (our sense of well-being and vitality) is not just about what the body is or is not doing mechanically, but a function of the relationship between mind and body. Example One: NOT yoga… • At the gym: If I’m on the treadmill watching news of the latest political scandal and I’m feeling aggravated and thinking harsh thoughts… my body is registering STRESS. Sure, my heart rate is elevated and I may be reaching my cardiac goal, but every cell in my body is in “Defend” mode. A reading of my vital energy would find little benefit to my workout. • On the mat: The same could be said of the person doing a picture-perfect yoga posture. If the mind is not in the right place, then the body is faithfully initiating the resource requisitions for STRESS. The net result of my practice is
