I recently learnt that STRETCHING IS NOT YOGA. Lemme share a few things I learnt about the differences.

Like some of us here, I've always thought they're the same And I'm sorry if you also learnt this wrong idea from me

"When choosing btwn stretching vs yoga, u need to decide what you're looking to gain from the practice. If u want to improve performance with regular training, return after an injury, or improve your flexibility in a particular area of the body, stretching is the better option."

"Unlike stretching or fitness, yoga is more than just physical postures. ... Even within the physical practice, yoga is unique because we connect the movement of the body and the fluctuations of the mind to the rhythm of our breath."

"Although stretching and yoga have a few overlaps, they're 2 very different practices. For this reason, they have separate roles to play in your fitness routine. To determine when is the appropriate time for one or the other, we need to make a comparison btwn stretching vs yoga."

"To understand the reason for the belief that stretching and yoga are virtually the same, let’s look at how they are similar. Both relieve tightness in muscles. Both can engage the entire body. They can have some of the same goals.

Here, the similarities end."

Let's examine the many differences.

Stretching vs yoga

Stretching involves holding a position. You work on lengthening the muscle until you are stretching to the maximum. You push your body to the point just before it becomes uncomfortable,often leading to a release in tension.

A yoga workout, on the other hand, is made up of many poses. Some of these are similar (or even the same) as stretches, but a large number are quite distinct.

Breathing

Central to yoga is breathing technique. You breathe as deep and as long as you can. Breathing in stretching, however, teaches you to improve how you breathe during exercise. It helps you practice to avoid holding your breath.

Aims of the Practice

Stretching can help u recover from an injury, become more flexible, improve your athletic performance, or target a particular problem area like your lower back. While yoga is often for flexibility n focus, it can also be for strength, posture, and balance.

Ability Levels

Anyone can practice yoga just as anyone can (and should) stretch. However, yoga workouts are designed for different ability levels. Some poses take many years to achieve and are impossible before your body has developed the necessary strength and openness.

Yoga can be a strength practice.
Stretching is only focused on flexibility.

Yoga requires a focus on breathing. It’s about centering and connecting with yourself.
Stretching is what I do in the evenings while browsing on my phone or watching a movie before I call it a night

Yoga brings a feeling of slow…of calm.
Stretching usually feels like hurry up and get it done

Yoga allows you to feel connected – to others, to life, to yourself.
Stretching allows you to feel productive (don’t lie that’s why lots of you do it!)

Yoga is something more and deserves a different spot in training. It deserves focused attention so that we can get the most from it

"Typically, when we think of stretching, it’s a pretty passive activity. You hang over your legs after a long run or you kind of, sort of reach for your toes when sitting on the floor watching some TV. Yoga is much more than that!"

In conclusion, what I do is Stretch. So if you need me to train you to become more flexible, please have it in mind that we're going to be all about stretching not yoga. I don't have the knowledge to teach yoga yet. Kindly contact @Krys_yogi or @cloudspin_ for a real yoga session