I am learning so much from doing yoga with one other person - the feedback!
Something that has come up is strengthening vs. stretching. Most people come to yoga for the stretching. The feeling of having stretched well, all the large muscle groups of the body is so satisfying. However, I am coming to the conclusion that stretching cannot be done safely or effectively without the complement of strengthening:
- stretching is not effective done "cold". Stretching requires the heat of strengthening to become effective. For example, at the beginning of practice, when the muscles are still cold, a standing forward triangle, which involves strengthening, is much more intense than a seated forward bend.
- stretching can be unsafe if done without strengthening. The balance of stretching a joint should be balanced with creating stability for the joint by strengthening.
As usual, a balance is needed between the two. Constant attention and awareness will be necessary to find out what the right balance is for you.
