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Why Yoga Gurus Don’t Run Or Lift Weights?
Have You Ever Seen A Yoga Guru In The Gym?
Have you ever read about a yoga guru doing aerobics or lifting weights? Probably not. Think of sages like Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, BKS Iyengar, and Krishna Pattabhi Jois—their images are firmly rooted in the world of yoga, not intense gym workouts.
A Different Path To Fitness And Longevity
These iconic yoga masters lived incredibly long lives while maintaining supreme fitness. Krishnamacharya lived to 101 years, Iyengar to 96, and Jois to 94. Unlike modern fitness buffs, they didn’t spend hours in the gym. So what was their secret?
Some might argue that their yoga practices contained elements of aerobic and resistance training. For example, Krishnamacharya, Iyengar, and Jois practiced fast-paced Vinyasa yoga, which involves a minor component of cardio. Similarly, some static poses in Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga can be seen as bodyweight resistance exercises. However, these aspects of yoga are far less intense compared to the modern emphasis on aerobics and strength training.
The Role Of Diet In Their Longevity
Another potential explanation for their longevity is dietary discipline. Yoga gurus are known for following strict, healthy diets. However, modern-day fitness enthusiasts often do the same. Yet, yoga practitioners seem to achieve a level of fitness and healthspan that eludes many fitness fanatics.
The Mystery Of Yoga's Health Benefits
This question puzzled me for years, especially after our health-tech company, Vieroots, started including personalized yoga regimens as part of our lifestyle modification programs. We saw how yoga helped reduce geno-metabolic risks and improve overall health, but I still wondered what made yoga so powerful.
The Missing Link: Flexibility
Recently, a significant study shed light on this mystery. While the research didn’t specifically mention yoga, it highlighted something that is central to yoga—flexibility.
A Brazilian study of over 3,100 people found that flexibility is strongly correlated with longevity. Participants with the least flexibility were far more likely to die earlier than those with higher flexibility—nearly twice as likely for men and five times more likely for women.
Flexibility: A New Path To Longevity
Flexibility is now emerging as the third pillar of longevity, alongside aerobic capacity and muscle strength. This discovery reaffirms the profound benefits of yoga. While others focus on cardiovascular and strength training, yoga’s emphasis on flexibility is proving to be just as vital, if not more so, for a long, healthy life
Yoga: The Ultimate Biohack For Longevity
At Vieroots, we felt validated that personalized yoga is a core component of our Human Performance Optimization (HPO) solutions, including programs like “Optimize My Weight” and “Optimize My Age.” Flexibility, it turns out, is not just a side benefit of yoga; it may be the key to unlocking a longer, healthier life.
Ready To Optimize Your Performance?
Visit Vieroots.com to learn more about our HPO programs and how personalized yoga can be your ultimate biohack.
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