Hello everyone.
I know this topic technically belongs somewhere else, but no one ever really reads topics that I post in the Healthcare forum, so I will post it here and hope it doesn't get moved
Anyway, this concerns exercise. I recently experienced a reawakening of sorts and felt a strange urge to resume my weight training, as well as running and raquetball. Mainly, weight training is my focus of this topic because of the reasons I felt compelled to get back into it. I gave it up a little before I began AYP 4 months ago in favor of a vegetarian diet, and also because I realized I had unreasonable expectations (wanting to be some hulking muscle mass when I am 135 pounds), and it was hurting my self-image and causing dissatisfaction with my body. Since then I have really come a long way in accpeting and appreciating my slim physique, however, recently it dawned on me during a meditation that I'd really like to begin again, but with a new attitude. I really wanted to see how a yogic mindset of focus and breathing could help me as I've always been very interested in mind-body phenomena. I went today and found it very enjoyable. I did not have unreasonable expectations, was not self-concious, and I found a new ability to concentrate and sync my breathing with my movements as well as increased body awareness. I also began running again and found it to be an extreme challenge to my ability to concentrate.
I know there has been some revent controversey over the use of yogic breathing during exercise and outside of practice, but I do not intentionally perform any specific breathing other than a slow controlled nasal breath.
Anyway, I just wanted to know if anyone else here has experience in forms of sport and exercise and how yoga may be a boon in your practice either physically or psychologically.
I think the best thing I took to the gym today from yoga after 4 months was a new contentment with myself and my body. If I could not do a certain weight, I was content and accepting
