Have you ever needed to scratch your back on the doorframe because you can't reach your back? I've. Does getting big and muscular ask you to pay the price of losing flexibility? For many people lifters, yes it does . but that is because they just don't stretch. Hottest I was big, but stiff as a board. I've read a large amount of weight lifting workouts and done a large amount of all of. Very rarely is there any mention or inclusion of a stretching ideas. I understand the lack curiosity among the weight lifting crowd in stretching (let alone yoga). Sodas while I lifted weights hard, I had no consideration in stretching. The only stretching Used to do was just a little chest stretch before a whopping bench press session. Somewhere during the way I learned about Power Pilates. I was interested with them as fat loss lifter. I thought it would improve my physique. I didn't really love the flexibility aspect, it is going to I could tone my muscles with Power Yoga, I thought that was cool. I bought the Power Yoga book and got to work. It was tough. In fact, I couldn't do plenty of it at all - your flexibility moves nor many of the strength moves. I was thinking there must be something towards yoga. I continued lifting and incorporated Power Yoga sessions into my regimen. Enjoyed the results . not any physique leads to speak of, but I could not believe very good it felt to be flexible. I so tight from working out for years, that being flexible felt amazing. In order to do the rigorous Power Yoga routine, I cut down quite something on my lifting (I've resumed my heaving lifting regimen, and if do docile yoga every week). Ways to add stretching for the weight lifting regimen 1. Stretch in between sets This is easy to do and it is something I still do. While resting anywhere between lifting sets, do some gentle stretches (forward bends, easy backbends, twists easy inversions). They might very little energy. Through the end in the place of 20 set workout, you'll get done twenty minutes of stretching, which will inevitably improve your flexibility. 2. Do 2 mini-stretch sessions the actual day Some days I do 10 minutes of stretching first part of the day. I then do another 10 to twenty minutes after my workout as a wind-down. Method I'll stretch in between my pieces. 3. Attend a yoga class at a gym or elsewhere Seriously, give you class a shot. Mini-sessions are great, but an entire 60 to 90 minute session location else. I feel amazingly fluid, serene and relaxed after a full yoga class. It's definitely worth trying. It's not in order to fit a single class during the week. If you lift hard, you'll want to start yoga class on an off day . publicize it a gentler style of yoga. Avoid a full Power Yoga session because that's taxing and when you are lifting hard, it end up being the too a whole lot of. 4. Change focus for 4 to six weeks If you are lifting hard for months on end, consider selecting 4 in order to six week hiatus (or ease back near the lifting throttle) and do 2 to 4 yoga sessions weekly. It's a diverse workout, that does develop your muscles, but also improves adaptability. It could be just the mix-up the actual is looking for. Do real athletes do yoga? You quote. More and more professional athletes are incorporating yoga/stretching into their regimen. From football players to sports people. It's growing and growing fast for a reason - it improves performance. Basketball pros, football pros, Olympians, top runners, golfers, boxers, hockey players, tennis stars . you name it, some top performing athletes in pretty much every sport do yoga exercises. Yoga a lot more than stretching and getting flexible Breathing ability A associated with yoga is breathing. You'll learn a large amount about breathing and improve your breathing ability, which will with becoming more positive. Build strength You can build up strength doing yoga. No, you won't build huge amounts of muscle mass, but you can strengthen strength through strength techniques. Balance Many yoga positions require balance, which improves because you do more balancing puts. Mental Clarity Many people do yoga more for that mental and emotional benefits than physical benefits. Will be able to improve pounds lifting with improved focus and picture quality. In fact, improving clarity and focus improves any sport. How does yoga help bodybuilders? For competitive bodybuilders, yoga can help with posing and movement big time. I can also help prevent injury, clear the mind and improve put attention. All of these benefits are vital that competitive bodybuilders (and non-pros).