Difference between yoga and Exercise

At Present time, everyone is very aware of the health and fitness of the body. These days gym, swimming, running, cycling, memberships are very common for the purpose of good health and fitness. Yoga is also becoming famous around the world. Yoga is misunderstood as a form of physical exercise by people. Most of the population around the world think that both yoga and exercise are the same. The aim of both of them is to improve the health and fitness of the body. In this article, we will discuss in detail the difference between yoga and exercise, the importance of yoga and exercise in our healthy life.

Yoga vs Exercise

Sr.no	Description	Yoga	Exercise
1	Origin	The origin of yoga is Hindu.	The origin of the exercise is different as per exercise.
2	Mindfulness	The main focus in yoga is on breath and mindfulness.	Exercise ignores breath and mindfulness.
3	Consciousness	Yoga needs consciousness over body sensation and mainly focuses on a particular chakra.	In exercise these things are meaningless.
4	Stability	In yoga, there is slow movement which increases the stability of the body.	When we do exercise the movement of the body is very fast
5	intuition	Yoga develops inner awareness, which develops intuition and prepared for meditation and Samadhi.	In exercise, there is no place for things like meditation and samadhi.
6	Flexibility	The continuation of yoga provides flexibility to the body. Yoga also provides strength to the body.	The key focus of the exercise is on the strength of the body.
7	Metabolism	It slows down the metabolism.	It increases metabolism.
8	Equipment	No equipment is needed for yoga.	Many types of equipment are needed for exercise like gyms.
9	Space	Less space is needed for yoga.	Large space is needed to place the exercise equipment.
10	Behaviour	With yoga, the behaviour of the person remains smooth and good.	No changes in behaviour were achieved.
11	Energy levels	With yoga, there is no energy loss of the body.	With heavy gym exercise, lots of energy is lost from the body.
12	Body shape	By yoga, the person achieves a natural body shape.	By the exercise, a good and perfect body shape is achieved.
13	Age	Generally, no age restriction.	Old people are unable to do exercise.

What is Yoga?

Yoga is an ancient discipline that aims to provide physical, mental and spiritual fitness to human binges. it is a very ancient philosophy that helps to person to live a happy and joyful life. Yoga builds the base of the physical body and moves towards the spiritual world. The definition of yoga is given by the Maharshi Patanjali, he also provides the guidelines for the yoga and the asana which are used for yoga. The ancients’ scriptures like Upanishad, Vedas, Bhagwat Geeta, and Puranas also describe yoga and its benefits for human beings.

Yoga is a very old discipline that is currently followed by all over the world. Yoga first originated in India, which is more than 6,000 years ago. Maharishi Patanjali wrote all his knowledge and experience about yoga in “yoga sutra”. This book is in Sanskrit and after it is converted to other languages.

Yoga is a package of many sitting and standing postures, in these positions main focus is on the breath inhaling and exhaling. The postures in yoga are known as the asanas. Yoga helps us to improve our physical, mental, spiritual fitness. In the current era, stress levels are increasing day by day and this pressure leads to measuring diseases in our bodies. Yoga helps to reduce the stress level.

Types of yoga

There are various types of Yoga. Let’s know about every type of Yoga:

Hatha yoga

Hatha yoga is the first branch of yoga from all other branches. This branch of yoga comes under yoga in general terms and the time period for this type of yoga is around 45 to 90 minutes. It includes smooth breathing; yoga poses and meditation.

History of Hatha Yoga

The origin of yoga in India 2000 years ago on time is well known as spiritual breathing asana. Hatha yoga firstly comes to light in the 11^th century. Before the 19^th century, it wasn’t so popular, in the year the 1960s this branch comes to America and become worldwide famous.

Hatha word is derived from the Sanskrit which means force. The hatha yoga breathing technique can be traced back to the 1^st century in both Hindu and Buddhist texts. By the practising of yoga asanas and breath control was as to increase vital energy in the body.

According to research in America currently one of the seven people practising yoga in their daily life due to its benefits to mind and body. Hatha yoga is very effective to relieve stress, improving emotional health. This yoga is also very helpful to support healthy habits, this yoga helps people to quit smoking.

Swami Vivekanand brought Hatha yoga to America in 1893 as a spiritual practice. Later in 1920 with the combination of asanas and other popular exercises create a new style of yoga which is more physical than spiritual.

In the 1950s hatha yoga become very popular in America with a TV show “yoga for health” the director of this show by Richard Kittleman. In this current era, hatha yoga is well known for physical and spiritual yoga for mind-body health.

Hatha yoga Asanas for Mind-Body health

Sirsasana – Headstand pose

The headstand pose can be practised by balancing your body on the head and elbows. This pose is also known as the king of all poses. With the help of this pose blood flow increases in our head and face area.

Sarvangasana- Shoulder stand pose

Sarvangasana asana can be performed by balancing your body on the shoulders. This pose is also well known as the queen of all poses. This pose is very helpful in reducing stress and anxiety, this pose is also having the power to treat infertility and asthma and also good results on the spine.

Halasana – Plough Pose

The plough pose is an inverted back pose. This pose provides excellent stretch to the shoulders and the spinal area. Halasana helps to build strength and flexibility in the body. Plough poses also increase the immunity of the body and this pose is also recommended to women in menopause.

Matsyasana- Fish pose

Matsyasana pose can be practised by laying on the floor with the back slightly bending upwards. This pose is very helpful in relieving menstrual discomfort.

Bhujangasana -Cobra pose

Cobra pose can be practised by laying on the stomach and slightly bending the chest upward on the arms. Bhujangasana is very helpful to strengthen the nerves of the spine. Cobra pose is also very useful for digestion and menstrual pain problems.

Salabhasana- Locust pose

Salabhasana asana can be practised by laying on the stomach and slightly bending the chest and legs in the upward direction. Locust pose boosts blood flow in the entire body.

Jana Yoga

Jana yoga is a procedure in which intellectual thoughts are converted into practical smartness. This yoga is a discovery of human being dharma in relation to nature and the great universe. Jana yoga is defined by tradition as a means to get the richest meditative position of internal knowledge.

The basic meaning of the Jana is knowledge but when we see it with respect to yoga in that way it means it is the process of meditative consciousness that go towards illuminative smartness. Jana yoga is not a path in which we can find the answers to eternal things and questions, but it is a part of meditation that helps to self-realisation.

Components of Jnana Yoga:

1. Not believing but realising
2. Self-witting leads to self-analysis
3. Experiencing deep knowledge
4. Realising the personal behaviour
5. Developing intuitive smartness
6. Experiencing internal unity

Definition of Exercise

Exercise is a physical activity that leads to the physical health of the person. Exercise is only related to the physical aspects of the human body. By the many kinds of research, it is clear that with the continuation of exercise many internal body organs and other systems such as respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular systems are boosted and enriched. exercise also helps to limit and ward off many problems and many other disorders like obesity, indigestion, and cholesterol.

These days many exercises are available which are practised by people all over the world. Exercise can be practised these days in two forms which are single body part exercises and exercises which involves the whole body. The activities like jogging, swimming, skipping, tennis, football, badminton come under the form of exercise. Other specific workouts which are performed in the gym, aerobics, dance also come under exercise. Some yoga asanas also come under exercise.

Types of exercise

Aerobic Exercise

These are the exercise which increases the heart rate and breathing which is very important for many human body organs. Aerobic exercises speed up blood circulations and fulfil the blood requirements of the different body organs. This exercise burns the extra fats.

Strength training exercises

When we grow up with the age we lose our muscle mass, this muscle can be maintained with the help of strength training exercise. The strength training exercise is very important for bone strengthening.

Stretching exercises

Stretching exercises help to maintain the flexibility of the body. This exercise helps to decrease the risk of muscle cramps and pain.

Balance exercise

Balance exercises improve the balance of the body, by which we feel steady on the feet. These exercises are very important when we get older.

The key difference between yoga and exercise

Sr.no	Key points	Yoga	Exercise
1	Flexibility	Yoga provides flexibility to the body	Exercise makes the body stiff and inflexible.
2	Nerves	Yoga energised the nerves	Exercise energised the muscles.
3	Breathing	Regulating breathing is observed.	Irregular breathing is observed.
4	Blood	Yoga purifies the blood.	Not much effect on the blood purification.
5	Digestion	Yoga increases digestion.	Exercise decreases digestion because the blood flow increases to the other organs.
6	Organs	Both external and internal organs get benefits.	Exercise affects only external muscles.
7	Energy centres	Yoga protects the energy centre of the body.	Exercise does not affect the energy centre.
8	Diseases	Yoga is very helpful for many diseases.	Exercises do not much effective for the diseases.
9	Attributes	Yoga develops many attributes like tolerance, self-confidence, self-control etc.	Exercise develops only physical attributes.
10	Origin	The origin of yoga is Hindu.	The origin of the exercise is different as per exercise.
11	Mindfulness	The main focus in yoga is on breath and mindfulness.	Exercise ignores breath and mindfulness.
12	Consciousness	Yoga needs consciousness over body sensation and mainly focuses on a particular chakra.	In exercise these things are meaningless.
13	Stability	In yoga, there is slow movement which increases the stability of the body.	When we do exercise the movement of the body is very fast
14	intuition	Yoga develops inner awareness, which develops intuition and prepared for meditation and Samadhi.	In exercise, there are no places for things like meditation and samadhi.
15	Flexibility	The continuation of yoga, it provides flexibility to the body. Yoga also provides strength to the body.	The key focus of the exercise is on the strength of the body.
16	Metabolism	It slows down the metabolism.	It increases metabolism.
17	Equipment	No equipment is needed for yoga.	Many types of equipment are needed for exercise like gyms.
18	Space	Less space is needed for yoga.	Large space is needed to place the exercise equipment. For other exercises like running, playing also needs big playgrounds.
19	Behaviour	With yoga, the behaviour of the person remains smooth and good.	No changes in behaviour were achieved.
20	Energy levels	With yoga, there is no energy loss of the body.	With heavy gym exercise, lots of energy is lost from the body.
21	Body shape	By yoga, the person achieves a natural body shape.	By the exercise, a good and perfect body shape is achieved.
22	Age	Generally, no age restriction.	Old people are unable to do exercise.

Conclusion

By this article on the difference between yoga and exercise, this is very clear that yoga has more power for health than exercise. But if we talk about the body shape which is very important these days can be possible with the help of exercise. In this era, we should know the importance of physical education because everyone needs a perfect and attractive body shape which is completely possible with modern exercises. Yoga is only for those who only need good health and stress-free life.

This is all about the difference between yoga and exercise. We hope this article will be informative for you. If you want to know about the difference between latitude and longitude then read our article.

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