Do you know soft gymnastics?

In any case, it must also be taken into account that, in recent years, in many sports centers they have been included in their activities.

• Yoga, tai chi, Pilates and hypopressive gymnastics are "soft gymnastics" activities of diverse origin that have become fashionable in recent years due to their benefits.
• The control of breathing, muscle problems or the improvement of mobility and flexibility, are some of the strengths that these sports modalities work.
• Currently, these sports practices are taught in any sports center.

Yoga

It is an ancient practice whose origin is in India. In the culture in which yoga was born, it is not only a way to gain well-being on a physical but also mental level. In fact, it can be defined as the search for balance between body and mind. In addition, those who include yoga in their routine, follow a philosophy of life with change of habits at the level of, for example, that make it a whole lifestyle.

In Western culture, yoga has become a widespread activity practiced by thousands of people seeking the benefits it provides at different levels. The postures (or asanas) that are practiced, together with the work of breathing, allow to obtain improvement in agility, flexibility, balance and also in relaxation and concentration since it works from meditation. At the respiratory level, it is ideal for people with a tendency to nervousness and since it helps control breathing and is a job that can be applied on a day-to-day basis. In addition, it improves oxygenation and thus achieves a feeling of well-being.

At present there are several and numerous schools and streams. It is about looking for a center where there are professionals who teach it and choosing the type of yoga that best suits our needs and objectives. It is important to adapt the level of demand to each individual and their physical condition, although it is a practice it is recommended for all ages and genders.

Many benefits

As therapy, it is recommended, along with others, in patients with cancer since, according to various studies, it is possible to reduce the level of medication that these patients must take.

On the other hand, some psychiatrists value yoga as an adjunctive therapy for disorders such as symptoms.

But it is not only recommended when there is an established or diagnosed pathology. As a result of some recently published studies, where short-term effects have been described in reducing blood pressure levels and heart rate, yoga is spoken of as a method cardiovascular preventive.

Tai Chi

Is a martial art of Chinese origin whose beginnings were focused on fighting. At present, due to the joint and muscular movements that it implies, together with the aspect of meditation, we obtain benefits both at the body and mental level. It is like a meditation in movement in which global muscle relaxation and the reduction of joint overload are sought through postural modifications.

Being slow and smooth movements it is recommended for those who have joint and / or muscle problems. There are clinical studies that mention, for example, that arthritis or chronic fatigue syndrome are pathologies that obtain benefits thanks to their practice because improves range of motion, balance, flexibility and strength. It is one of these improvements at the level of balance that offers the best results since the number of falls in this type of patient is avoided and reduced.

This activity can be done in a individual, in pairs (Tuishou) or in a group. If it is carried out in a group, there is also a benefit that is not very objective but very important: that of socialization. Surrounding yourself with people with similar interests helps not only to feel comfortable but also to retain continuity, so that the benefits will be more secure.

Pilates

Unlike the aforementioned, this activity has a european origin. It was created by Joseph Pilates during the Second World War with a therapeutic objective, but today its practice is universal and has spread not only as therapy but also at a preventive level, of the muscles of the or what is known as "core" . In addition, the technique is used as a training guideline in disciplines totally different from Pilates, such as sports gymnastics.

Its popularization means that this activity can be found both in Sport centers as in specialized centers. In these different modalities are practiced with machines or on the ground. Regarding the machines, one of the best known would be the "Reformer", a kind of "bed" with springs, pulleys and grips that allow the body to slide to improve physical condition.

Breathing is another of the key points of this modality. If done correctly you can get to improve lung capacity and blood circulation.

In any case, the most common recommendations for the practice of Pilates are aimed at those who have back problems. For this reason, before starting it is essential to discuss it with the professional who is going to develop the therapy so that they can assess the current state of health. It must be taken into account and thus it will be customized to the maximum to obtain the best results.

Hypopressive gymnastics

Created by Marcel Caufriez in the 20th century, it is based on selectively promoting the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles.

This methodology has been incorporated into gymnastics classes focused on older people, especially women, since with age our muscle tone, both abdominal and pelvic, decreases. It is highly recommended for or with urinary problems, as well as for those who have been diagnosed with a hernia or present the weak abdominal or lumbar muscles. Other benefits are improved posture of the spine and postural balance.