If you believe that martial arts and yoga fall on different sides, you would be amazed that yoga and martial arts, in fact, have something more in common than many Filipino martial arts practitioners realize. In this post, we will discuss the benefits of yoga to martial arts.
Yoga is a Mental Exercise
For beginners, the basic principles of both disciplines are mindfulness, consciousness, and awareness, both in life as well as on the mat. Contrary to common beliefs, martial arts isn't just a self-defence practice or sport – It's art, a philosophy that many consider as a way of living.
Just like yoga, it puts emphasis on movements, as well as being present with precision, embodiment, and awareness. Hence, it's not a surprise that different asanas and poses performed in yoga can add to enhance the execution of methods that are always utilized in numerous martial art styles.
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When combined, martial arts and yoga naturally act as yin and yang, harmonizing each other to create a deadly combination.
Here are five great reasons yoga will become useful if you're seeking to enhance your practice in the martial arts:
It Improves and Develops Flexibility
Increased flexibility is perceived as a main benefit of yoga. The positions and stances are meant to add flexibility back to your joints, stretch muscles, and improve flexibility in general.
Try the bow poses (Dhanurasana) that will provide you with a full backbend to the whole length of your spine, building flexibility and strength in your back. This position stretches the shoulder, neck, legs, and arms, and expands the chest's Thoracic region. If you feel stiff as the board, you can attempt to do these yoga poses fit for folks such who aren't so flexible.
As you come to be more flexible, you'd be able to enhance your torque, thus throwing punches as well as submissions (techniques found in Brazilian jiu-jitsu), and those high kicks that are done by Van Damme, you have wanted to emulate!
It Aids In Boosting Endurance
When you're practising yoga, your endurance and strength will develop as well. If you are looking to enhance your entire body strength, having positioned in the various asanas for extensive periods will greatly serve you by boosting your mental toughness and stamina.
Furthermore, the meditation and breathing techniques will help you clear the mind and aid you become more attentive than ever.
As you might already know, concentration is an essential aspect of practicing the arts. With yoga, you might just improve that clear and zen focus ninjas and samurais are very known for.
If you are among those folks who spend time arching over with the shoulders in during exercise, Wanderlust.com suggests for your attempt to carry out the Ustrasana or Camel Pose. This pose will let you open up your chest. It doesn't only will aid to counter a few of your practices from training; it'll also naturally provide you with more area to breathe. Thus providing you with more oxygen into your body.
It Aids You to Increase Core Strength
Core muscles are the reason for the solid kicks and punches. As stated by Yoga Journal, this kind of force can be enhanced by holding quite a few yoga poses like Three-Legged Downward Facing or Dog Dolphin Planks, for long periods.
When you use your core muscles every so often, you'll probably experience a massive increase in power that's especially useful for martial arts practices – particularly those that entail usage of powerful kicks like Muay Thai. Plus, you will be able to obtain those exquisitely toned abs you have always wanted!
It Allows A Fast Recovery
Martial artists are susceptible to injuries, and everyone knows it's a big disappointment not to being able to train when you're in the recovery process. In these cases, you would be fascinated to know that a few yoga postures have healing advantages.
Why try Supine Split? This pose can aid you to cut your recovery time, also saving you from suffering many pains and aches after sparring sessions!
What is even better? Yoga aids to train martial artists the ways in how to properly utilize their muscles in a precise manner, therefore preventing numerous common injuries in practice/fights.
It Enhances Balance
Based on the form of the various yoga poses, even people who aren't acquainted with the discipline would get that in addition to flexibility; it's an effective means to enhance balance. Simple but powerful poses like the airplane pose and the tree pose entail you to stand and balance on a leg for extended periods.
By practicing and learning on these postures, your inner balance will become more stable. Mastering these will aid you to remain light on your feet such as the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.
If you're looking to enhance your practice in Arnis martial arts, we certainly suggest you to study how to include yoga into the practice and become a better martial artist!
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