What's better for your body: slow yoga or fast yoga?
Slow yoga develops your mental toughness during uncomfortable positions.
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A smart yoga routine should incorporate both—ideally one power vinyasa sesh for every two slow sequences (like hatha) per week, according to Melanie Potiaumpai, a doctoral research assistant at the University of Miami.
Each type has its own perks; choose your day's flow based on the body benefits below.
SLOW YOGA
Holding a pose will...
- Increase flexibility as you fight through tension and tightness.
- Improve muscular endurance with isometric (i.e., still) muscle contractions.
- Develop your mental toughness during uncomfortable positions (looking at you,chair pose!).
Try this 30-minute yoga routine for strength:
POWER YOGA
Moving through rapid transitions will...
- Burn up to two more calories per minute than slow flows (that's 120 extra cals torched in an hour-long class), says new research.
- Increase muscle activation significantly, helping you get stronger faster (FYI, your muscles will recover during static poses).
- Reduce pulled-muscle injuries, thanks to the extra-dynamic stretches.
This article originally appeared in the June 2017 issue of Women's Health. For more great advice, pick up a copy of the issue on newsstands now!
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