With time, standards of fitness have evolved. Earlier it was all about having a solid handshake and the ability to carry heavy loads, then it transitioned to bulging muscles. Now, it is all about having lean muscle mass and six-pack abs. However, there is another definition of fitness given by yoga practitioners who believe that having overall good mental, physical, and emotional health is true fitness. This has led to the yoga vs gym debate.
Although everyone does possess an idea of how fit they are, being aware of the specifics can help you set realistic fitness goals. It also helps you choose the right way to good health and well-being. That said, let us check out the various parameters utilized for assessing one's level of fitness.
Given below are the 3 parameters which help you know your level of fitness.
Knowing your body composition gives you an exact measurement of fat mass, body fat percentage, and muscle mass. It is the best way to know if you are losing or gaining weight.
If you have a higher percentage of body fat, especially visceral fat which lines your abdominal organs, it increases your risk of developing numerous heart-related issues. It is here you should include a little bit of yoga or gym to keep weight levels within a healthy range.
Cardiorespiratory fitness is your body's capacity to inhale oxygen and deliver it to your muscles and organs. Normally, if you are involved in intense cardio sessions then you would possess a higher CRF (Cardiorespiratory Fitness) rate in comparison to others. It is one of the crucial points in the yoga vs gym debate.
An important aspect of physical fitness is your level of flexibility. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most overlooked aspects. Keep in mind that without proper fitness, your muscles and joints become stiff which limits your overall body movement. It is here that many prefer to sign up for a yoga class instead of a gym membership.
Now, it is time we check out the difference which sets yoga and gym apart from each other.
Now, let us check out some of the major differences in the yoga vs gym debate.
In the gym, you engage in an intense activity like weight lifting which increases your heart rate but over time, brings it back to normal.
On the contrary, yoga includes numerous stretching exercises. These don't just increase your heart rate but also help the body develop a good level of flexibility. In other words, yoga practice aims to help improve the entire body mechanism.
There is a world of difference in the yoga vs gym debate, especially when it comes to the cost. Yoga is less expensive as all you need is a good quality yoga mat and a little place to start the practice.
However, on the other hand, for a gym, you would have to get a membership which is normally a bit expensive in comparison to yoga. On the other hand, even if you choose to work out at home, there would be a good amount of expense involved in purchasing weights.
In the case of regular yoga, if you do not want to be part of a group, there are numerous offline and online resources to help you kickstart the practice.
However, in a gym, you need the guidance of a trainer to understand which exercises are better for a beginner and how you should use particular equipment.
Missing out a few days of yoga classes does not cause any withdrawal symptoms. On the other hand, missing out a few days of the gym workout leads to muscle soreness and body ache. It is where yoga wins in the yoga vs gym debate.
When you are working out at the gym, only those muscles and organs work for which you are doing the exercise.
On the other hand, signing up for a yoga class ensures that you enjoy mental, physical, and emotional benefits. In other words, yoga is a win-win situation where you receive mental and physical benefits.
It is clear that in the yoga vs gym debate, the gym offers you enough to develop solid muscular strength. However, when it comes to taking care of your mental, physical, and emotional needs it is yoga that wins the prize.