There is no doubt that doing some exercise is better than doing none. In the UK we are experiencing an obesity epidemic, with rising rates of related diseases such as diabetes and coronary heart disease and regular sensible exercise has a part to play in addressing this national problem. However, simply going to a gym and working with weights, or hitting the road for a run is rarely a long term solution...

The trouble with many intensive exercise regimes is that they lead to tighter muscles, restricted movement and often injuries result. A pulled hamstring, or strained shoulder are familiar trademarks of the runner or body builder.
By incorporating Hatha Yoga into your regular exercise regime you can help to avoid injuries and improve your athletic performance by:

• Developing a greater awareness of how your body moves and so recognise when joints are out of alignment and in the danger zone.
• Increasing flexibility. When we practice Yoga we learn to generate internal heat using yogic breathing techniques. This heat warms the muscles and connective tissues allowing deeper dynamic stretches.
• Greater strength through the whole range of movement. There are many hundreds of different postures and positions that work particular muscle groups at different levels of flexion and extension.

Many athletes, coaches and trainers have written extensively about the benefits of yoga as part of any training regime. One of the most prolific is Beryl Bender Birch. In her bestselling book Power Yoga she writes:

"Sports don't really get us in shape. In fact, sports get us out of shape. Sports develop tight muscles and uneven use of muscle groups, or the uneven use of one side of the body. Running, for instance, is great for the cardiovascular system. But it dramatically tightens the muscles at the back of the legs and does virtually nothing for the rest of the body. This intense shortening or disproportionate strengthening results in muscular and structural imbalance."

Beryl has worked with, and introduced yoga to the New York Road Runners Club and the American Cross Country skiing team to name only a few. For more information see the Power Yoga website.