A New Spin on Yoga

.

When you manage to snag an hour to exercise, do you choose to burn optimal calories with cardio activities, strengthen your muscles with weights, or take time to simultaneously stretch and unwind? Why not accomplish all three goals in one workout?

The ancient practice of yoga improves strength, balance, and flexibility, but many folks complain that it doesn't give them a real, fat-blasting workout. On the other hand, Spinning--a high-energy indoor bike class--burns a whopping 450 to 550 calories per 40-minute session, but doesn't soothe the savage beast, enhance stretching techniques, or sculpt bodies. Savvy instructors have realized the benefits of both exercises and combined the two into a hybrid called "Yoga Spinning."

In both yoga and Spinning, instructors help participants become more aware of the integral link between their minds and bodies.

Although the two forms of exercise may seem at odds, they actually have many similarities. In both yoga and Spinning, instructors help participants become more aware of the integral link between their minds and bodies by verbally guiding them through changes in workout intensity, focusing on different parts of their bodies, and providing calm support and encouragement. Yoga Spinning teachers have a strong foundation in yoga instruction and then become certified in Spinning, says North Carolina-based instructor Sunny Davis.

"Throughout class, we help members become more in tune with their breath, their aerobic capacity, and their muscles by saying things like, 'Envision your body grounded from the waist down and allow your upper body to flow from your shoulders' or even 'Imagine your head lengthening toward the sky to improve your posture,'" says Davis. These verbal cues can also prevent exercise injuries and stall workout boredom.

A Yoga Spinning class ranges from 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the teacher and location, and begins off the bike with a series of yoga postures performed on mats. (As a rule, you do this section wearing athletic footwear, unlike regular yoga class, where you are barefoot.)

Continued on page 2: »