Your daily dose of calming yoga just got pumped up, and how! We’re bringing some weights into the picture and totally breaking the monotony of traditional yoga. Be prepared to hit some good reps with dumb-bells when you spread out the yoga mat in a killer session of Iron Yoga. Its basic concept is of classic yoga poses with the twist of weights, to boost flexibility. It involves carrying weights while you hold a classic yoga pose. Now, that’s heavy, isn’t it?
Introduced in India by Neeraj Mehta (PhD in Human Biomechanics), Iron Yoga aims to strengthen the muscles, reduce stiffness in joints that often arises from a sedentary lifestyle, increase body flexibility, and promote blood flow in the body. It’s safe to call it an extreme stretching routine which releases endorphins – the happy hormones – and helps you become more energetic and efficient.
Neeraj, Director at GIFFI Fitness Academy, Delhi, outlines the special benefits of Iron Yoga for women, and says, “With this routine, women can burn more fat even post their workout, thanks to the involvement of weights. The muscle contraction is greater and blood circulation is improved, thus carrying oxygen to each and every part of the body, leading to a rapid release of growth hormones.” You don’t have to be a yoga guru to get into Iron Yoga, but yoga practitioners will definitely find it more comfortable and more fun as it breaks the monotony, offering a good challenge to their regular yoga sessions. “Movement, posture and breathing plays a major role in this workout, and it is essential that you practice iron yoga only under a trainer’s guidance,” Neeraj cautions. For beginners, his team of trainers modifies the moves and amount of weights according to their fitness levels.
Patented in India by Neeraj as SteelFlexx, this form of exercise, he says, “tones the body four times faster than the traditional form of yoga stretches, maintains a check on one’s posture and the right form of bio-mechanics.” Most of the traditional yoga poses can be used during Iron Yoga, such as the Triangle pose (Trikonasana), Camel pose (Ushtrasana), Warrior pose (Veerbhadrasana), seated and standing forward bending (Paschimottanasana and Uttanasana), Tree pose (Vrksasana), etc. The amount of weight you would lift in these poses would depend on your fitness level. The usual number of reps in a class is 10-12, and if you’re practicing static stretching, then it’s ideal to hold the pose for 8 to 10 secs.
Neeraj adds a bit of caution, saying, “Any weight that compromises on your movement, technique and posture is definitely too heavy for you and puts you at a risk of injury. And only do the allotted numbers of reps – don’t try more by yourself just yet!” And as it is post any other workout session, Neeraj reminds us, “Don’t forget to rehydrate yourself sufficiently, and replenish protein and carbs according to the intensity of the workout and your fitness level.”
Neeraj Mehta conducts SteelFlexx workshops and regular classes in Delhi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Vapi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kerala. Contact GFFI Fitness Academy on 9811309667 or 9810111018 for more information.
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