If you’ve ever seen a buffed up yoga teacher with giant biceps and bulging pecs, you can be sure he or she did not get that bodybuilder physique doing yoga poses.
Here’s why:
Yoga strength is functional strength, not for show, but for real life, real power. Ask any yoga teacher and they’ll tell you a similar story where a buffed up gym rat comes to class with biceps bigger than the teacher’s legs, and yet he can’t hold a chaturanga (half pushup) or side plank (side pushup) for more than 3 seconds while the skinny guy next to him can stick a handstand for 1 minute.
And here’s why this matters:
Yoga does build strength, but not in the way you’d normally think of. First, it builds dynamic muscle balance as opposed to mass, which is extremely useful no matter what your goals.
Second, it builds greater range of motion, which by definition equals greater strength.
Here’s the formula:
*Range of Motion x Force = Output of Power*
A pitcher with a strong arm who has a pathetic reach due to his tight shoulders can’t hurl the ball as fast.
A golfer who is built like a truck but whose hips are locked up can’t compete with his weaker yet bendy competitors.
Long tissues, strong body. Short tissues, weak.
Stay bendy,
Lucas
P.S. For the record, there are lots of very smart, very functional weight trainers and body builders. Lean muscle is one of the secret keys to fitness when done right.
