Benefits of Practicing Yoga in Winter
Effectively Relieve Stress and Improve Efficiency
Practicing yoga in winter accelerates blood circulation, enhancing brain oxygen supply. This positively affects fatigue caused by prolonged mental exertion, improving memory, and boosting learning efficiency.
Prevent Osteoporosis
Outdoor winter yoga exposes you to sunlight, aiding in germ elimination and promoting body disinfection. Sunlight helps absorb calcium and phosphorus, crucial for bone health.
Cultivate Willpower in Cold Conditions
Winter yoga builds physical strength and nurtures tenacity. Consistency in yoga during winter, despite the discomfort, reflects strong willpower. It counters the natural inclination to avoid exercise in the colder months.
Enhance Blood Circulation and Cold Resistance
Winter yoga addresses issues like cold hands and feet by improving blood circulation. The practice involves muscle contraction, increased heart rate, deepened breathing, and heightened metabolism, generating body heat. Additionally, it enhances the cerebral cortex’s excitability, improving the body’s cold resistance significantly.
Prevent Winter Weight Gain
Winter often leads to weight gain due to reduced physical activity. Yoga aids in calorie burning, helping to maintain a healthy body during the season.
What to Wear for Winter Yoga
- For heated room yoga: Choose modal fiber or cotton thermal clothing for comfort.
- For hot yoga: Opt for thin yoga clothes.
- For colder places: Wear thick wool or cotton practice clothes and take measures to stay warm.
Notes for Winter Yoga Practice
- Limber up before starting: Perform joint activities to warm up stiff limbs.
- Focus on basic asanas: Avoid overly challenging poses, especially inversions, in winter.
- Coordinate breathing and limbs: Emphasize abdominal breathing during practice.
- Change sweat-soaked clothes: After yoga, change out of sweaty clothes to prevent catching a cold.
Using Air Conditioning for Winter Yoga
Use air conditioning or heating to stay warm during winter yoga. Once your body heats up, you can turn it off to allow better air circulation and avoid inhaling poor-quality air.
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Winter Yoga Poses
Single-Leg Downward Dog
Reverse Table Pose
Magic Chair Twisting Pose
Plough Pose
Triangle Pose
Downward Dog Pose
Lie on Your Back with Hands and Feet Stretch
Double-Angle Pose
Yoga Taboos in Winter
Avoid Wearing Insufficient Clothes:
- Keep the room quiet and well-ventilated during practice.
- Wear cotton socks initially, especially in non-geothermally heated places.
- Avoid open-back, knee-length, or short-sleeved clothes in temperatures below 20 degrees.
- Consider using a thermal yoga mat for added warmth.
Avoid Excessive Exercise:
- Limit yoga sessions to one hour per day to prevent overconsumption of energy.
- Replenish consumed energy through a balanced diet.
- Be mindful of excessive exercise, as it may lead to sub-health in the long run.
Avoid Overstretching:
- In winter, when bones are stiffer, avoid overstretching and difficult poses.
- Increase rest time during practice and avoid forcing extreme movements.
Practice Moderation:
- Intensity should lead to slight sweating, not excessive perspiration.
- Allow enough recovery time for stretched ligaments to avoid overexertion.
- Do not force joints into extreme positions.
Listen to Your Body:
- Practice yoga when in a good mood and with a comfortable body.
- Don’t force yourself to practice daily; choose when it feels right.