Increasing Strength through Yoga

Our yoga classes are going through a six-week program focused on “Connecting Yoga with Real Life.” Basically, we’re looking at the reasons why people come to yoga and applying those desired outcomes to daily living.

Last week, we focused on flexibility as it’s one of the number one reasons people start taking yoga classes. This week, we turned our attention to strength. If you’re interested in maintaining or improving how strong you are, keep reading!

Why Stay Strong?

There are many reasons we aim to keep our strength up. Being strong helps us do chores or tasks that might be difficult for us, physically. When we maintain our strength, we avoid the risk of hurting ourselves when we do have to do that heavy lifting.

Being strong makes some life activities easier. And strong muscles can protect other parts of our body. In fact, when I worked at a gym a long time ago, my personal trainer harped on weight training, especially for women. Women often lose bone structure and density and by keeping a strong body, we can avoid some of the issues related to aging.

When we are strong, we’re better equipped to help others. And we don’t need to ask other people for help quite as much. We’re able to do things ourselves, able to stay independent and active.

Is Strength Only Physical?

In speaking with my students this week before our classes, we looked at the various ways people need to stay strong. And we realized- it’s not just physical!

If we have a challenging situation that we know is coming… let’s say our aging parent is losing some of their mobility and you, as the child living nearby, has to start helping your parent out more… that’s going to take a toll on you. Physically, but also mentally or emotionally.

You’re likely going to worry more. You’ll encounter new people you may have to interact with. And even handling your parent’s objections to their own loss of some independence, well, that’s taxing for anyone!

In order to cope with change, handle stress, and stay positive, you need a strong mental state of mind. You need to remain emotionally strong for others.

Balancing Helping with Help

On one hand, I can totally relate to a person’s desire for keeping their independence. After my elbow accident, I couldn’t do much on my own. Sadly, I had to ask a lot of people for help. And even for little things. It was awful.

So, staying strong to keep my independence is important to me. I would rather do as much as I can on my own without having to wait on or ask for help. However, it’s also important to realize when you actually might need some help. And be OK with accepting that help.

Not to jump ahead to another way we connect yoga with real life (ahem, balance), but we must balance doing things on or own with receiving help from others. We need to balance helping others with allowing others to help us. Try your best to see both as beneficial.

Strength in Yoga

So, how does yoga actually help us stay strong? It’s not like we’re doing reps upon reps of bicep curls during classes. What is it about yoga that helps us improve or keep our strength?

First off, there are going to be yoga poses that you don’t necessarily love. And while that happens, you need to try to see each pose as useful or beneficial to you. Rather than waiting for the very moment your yoga teacher cues you to get out of that one pose you can’t stand, can you find a way to embrace, enjoy, or at least just be with that challenging pose?

That’s strength building right there. When we are able to be with the uncomfortable, we get stronger.

Another way yoga helps us keep or improve our strength is in practicing poses. There might be some that are really difficult for you. Some that you feel your whole body shaking while you’re trying to do it.

Well, the more and more you practice these poses, they may get easier overtime. In fact, you might be able to look back and say, “I used to have a really hard time with that and now, because I’m stronger, it’s not so bad anymore.”

Ways to Build Strength

Finally, as we think about yoga and strength, we need to realize that it’s not just in holding the poses.

Sure, if you hold a plank pose or a chair pose for a good amount of time, you’re building strength in your muscles. But you can also build strength while moving.

In our classes, we spend a portion of our time practicing balance poses. Many of the poses are static in nature, meaning we’re balancing on one foot while holding the pose still.

Well, this past week, we practice some dynamic balance poses. Poses where we were moving from one balance activity to another. While the students laughed, struggled, or even moaned at me, I kept reminding them that with every wiggle we’re building stronger muscles.

I mean, if we don’t even try, how are we going to get stronger?

So, you can build strength in yoga by standing still on one foot or by moving fluidly through an active sequence. There’s as much strength in moving as there is standing still.

What do you think? Do you see any benefits in being strong? What yoga poses help you feel stronger? How does this yoga benefit translate to your real life?

And, of course, we’d love to see you in a future class! Check out our yoga schedule and sign up for a future program.

About the Author: Elizabeth Scala MSN/MBA, RN, RYT (200) is a holistic nurse, registered yoga instructor, and reiki master.

Elizabeth received her dual master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University. She is a certified coach, nature lover, and avid meditator.

Elizabeth lives in Maryland with her supportive husband and playful pups. She enjoys gardening, jigsaw puzzles, baking, music, and hiking.