Are You Ready to Take Your Strength Training to the Next Level? Discover
Wonder how Ryan Gosling got that nice toned six-pack when playing Ken in the smash hit movie Barbie?
Introducing the turbo-charged strength training secret that elite athletes and Hollywood stars swear by Yoga. Yoga is a key part of Gosling’s workout regimen, which swears by yoga because of the mind-body wellness it brings – in addition to its fitness and strength-training benefits.
Expert yoga teacher Eva Norlyk Smith, founder of YogaUOnline, says: “Most strength training programs leave you feeling one-dimensional and imbalanced. But yoga has become so popular because it builds functional, whole-body strength while also relaxing your mind.”
Beyond just flexibility, yoga is a low-impact, high-intensity way to sculpt sleek muscles from head to toe. And the benefits don’t stop there – it also reduces stress, boosts brain power and lifts your mood.
Sounds too good to be true? The science says otherwise. Research shows yoga is just as effective for building muscle as traditional weight-lifting. The secret is that it engages your entire body simultaneously instead of one muscle group at a time.
“Most forms of strength training rely on repetitive motions of a muscle group in one single plane. But your body doesn’t move that way – every movement is a coordinated dance between many muscles,” says Norlyk Smith. “Yoga trains the body for real life by mimicking natural movements.”
Ready to discover just how powerful yoga is for taking your strength game to a whole new level? Here are three reasons it’s the ultimate workout:
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Whole-body strengthening without any equipment
To build strength through yoga, all you need is your own body. Poses like plank, downward dog and chaturanga engage your entire core and limbs at once. A simple arm balance pose strengthens your upper back, biceps, shoulders and core simultaneously.
A simple exercise to try yourself is standing up and holding your arms out to the side for a minute, parallel to the ground. After a minute, you’ll begin to feel your arm muscles engaged, followed by your core getting fired up and also engaged in order to help support your arms. You may even notice yourself pressing into your feet to keep the strength in your core.
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Motivation that fits your busy lifestyle
When strength training feels like a tedious chore, it’s hard to stick with. But yoga’s mindfulness makes it intrinsically rewarding. “Your body doesn’t just train in yoga – your mind learns too,” says Norlyk Smith. Plus it’s convenient – just unroll your mat anytime, anywhere to boost your power and peace.
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Muscles and mindfulness paired
With yoga, you can look and feel amazing from the inside out. Research shows it reduces stress and blood pressure as effectively as medication. Your confidence soars as sleek shoulders, toned thighs and chiselled abs develop alongside a calm, focused mindset.
So, if functional full-body strength and stress relief sound better than dull machines that isolate muscles, try adding yoga to your routine.
It’s no wonder A-listers and athletes worldwide rely on this powerful practice to achieve balance, strength and mindfulness in high-pressure careers.