Do you know that The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle swears by Yoga? And have you looked at Deepika Padukone hitting the Gym in her Insta-videos? What about the iconic singer Cher who loves Zumba? We all feel inspired by many such stories of our favourite celebs and their fitness routines, especially when we are looking to make the best choices to adapt to a good and healthy lifestyle. But then, the main question is which one is the best - Yoga, Gym or Zumba? Is there a really big difference between them all, in terms of payoff? Will one type of fitness regime really sculpt your body more; give you a leaner look or burn the fat faster than the other?
Fitness is all about taking care of your body, your mind and your spirit. Whether it is Yoga, Gym or Zumba the idea at the core of all these methods is to adapt to a regime that fits your needs the most. Each of these has their own benefits depending on the goals you wish to reach. Research also shows that a combination of these fitness methods has its own amazing results. See which of these scenarios fits you the best- Take your pick!
1. FITNESS GOAL: “I want to do something that helps me achieve mental and physical relaxation.”
WHAT’S BEST: YOGA
What better way to invite positivity and peacefulness in your workout and reach your goals than through yoga practice? The benefits of yoga are widely known. Yoga helps you to not only relax but it improves your flexibility, your adaptability and your overall state of mind. This is one practice in which you can discipline your body as well as your mind. Yoga focuses on a restorative process that consists of a few core components:
- Breathing
- Stretching
- Flexibility
- Meditation
Pranayama, SuryaNamaskara is a breathing and stretching exercise, respectively. Doing it for 10 minutes every day can refresh your mind and body completely. Yoga eases you into adapting a fitness regime without any sweat or pressure if you want to start slow. It develops your spiritual state of mind and tones your body through different physical postures. Meditation improves your sleeping and eating habits also that enables you to maintain a healthier lifestyle. Yoga is a pursuit, not just a goal. If you dedicate a few hours of your day to yoga, you will see that it is one of the best mind-body practices to help you achieve your personal goals.
2. FITNESS GOAL: “I want to gain muscle strength and increase my endurance level.”
WHAT’S BEST: GYM
If you like working out indoors, hit the Gym! Strength training and core conditioning is one of the main focus at the gym. Developing a regular exercise routine is one of the surest ways of getting you on your way to a healthy life. Whether you want to lose weight, gain muscles or increase your endurance levels, the gym is your one-stop shop. Many people choose to join the gym since it offers programs that are specifically developed to suit each person’s individual needs and goals. Gym encourages you to have a balanced program that includes a variety of opportunities to reach your personal goals and have fun at the same time. A few primary amenities you can expect at most gyms are:
- Aerobics
- Treadmill
- Elliptical machine
- Weights
- Sauna Room
- Personal Trainers
- Group Sessions
Yes, you can always go out on walks or a run in your nearby park, but working out at the gym gives you an array of equipment to try new exercises. Weight training can help you develop your muscle strength and cardio exercises such as aerobics and run/walk on the treadmill are great cross-training workouts you can include to promote heart health and weight loss. At the gym, you can find equipment and workout space that is safe, motivating and comfortable and with many more options than at home.
3. FITNESS GOAL: “I want to lose weight faster and find a fun, enjoyable exercise routine.”
WHAT’S BEST: ZUMBA
Fitness and Dance- having these two combined to make one fun workout is having the best of both worlds! Zumba is what you need if you love to move, groove and make those calories burn faster. This particular dance class involves Latin dance moves with a fast-paced challenging choreography that allows you to experience an exhilarating workout session. Besides training the body, the music brings you fun and puts you in a super positive mood. Zumba can burn up to 400-600 calories in an hour and once you start, you won’t stop till you finish as the beats keep you moving. The benefits of Zumba are not hidden from anyone:
- Full Body Workout
- Calorie Burning
- Fun Activity
- Stress Buster
Zumba is a powerful exercise routine and if you maintain it you can find yourself getting into better shape, but beyond that, you can see an improvement in your coordination, heart health, and creating flexibility as well as joint strength as your hips and legs are challenged with every dance move. If you hate the treadmill or a run, expressing yourself through dance is one of the most wonderful ways of keeping healthy and Zumba can give you that joy.
SO WHAT’S YOUR PICK— YOGA, GYM OR ZUMBA?
Whether you choose Yoga, Gym or Zumba - the best one is that which brings you closer to your individual fitness goals. It is known that a great body comes with great sacrifices and there are more than one ways to achieve that. An ideal balance between mind and body is must so no matter which method of exercise you consider as your workout routine, having a good time is what matters the most!