Balance – “a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions.”
Ah, balance…. what a powerful thing. Take this, for instance:
“In Chinese philosophy, yang yin, which are often shortened to “yin-yang” or “yin yang”, are concepts used to describe how apparently opposite or contrary forces are actually complementary,interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another.” (Source: Wikipedia)
A few examples that come to mind immediately being
work | play
right side up | upside down
loud | quiet
full | empty
movement | stillness
hot | cold
male | female
light | dark
shorten | lengthen
sun | moon
fire | water
My own path was/is STRONGLY influenced by this philosophy. When I began, I was a hardcore runner turned hardcore kettlebeller who also practiced hot power yoga. These are all yang activities – aggressive, harder/better/faster/stronger – and without listening to my body (or even being aware of it), I was running myself into the ground. My go-go-go philosophy bit the dust when my acupuncturist/ Buddist monk client told me I needed balance, and I finally listened. I had been chasing these fiery male movements and it was burning me out.
In the 6 or 7 years since that moment of awareness, I have become more balanced, more centered (think about it – if you are equally yin and yang – you are the center), and stronger!
Here is what a lower body strength day might look like:
Here is a beginner yoga flow you could practice after a leg day:
Here is what moving through my body “undoing” a day of lifting currently looks like for me:
For me it will never again be one or the other. With Strength and Yoga, the whole is absolutely greater than the assembled parts. Think about that age-old adage: Everything you do, you must undo. You are only as strong as your weakest link. The contemplative effect of both yoga and strength training provides that constant feedback mechanism. I make sure to do yoga 1 – 2 days per week, and offset that with 3 days of strength.
Check out these articles written for Girls Gone Strong and Juggernaut Training Systems for more information about yoga and strength training!
http://www.girlsgonestrong.com/3-types-of-yoga-for-the-girl-gone-strong/
http://www.jtsstrength.com/articles/2013/07/08/yoga-for-athletes-part-1/
http://jtsstrength.com/articles/2013/10/01/yoga-athletes-part-2/
