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ASANAS SERIES:
Differences Between Physical Culture And Asanas
| YOGIC EXERCISE | PHYSICAL CULTURE |
| Opposes violent muscle movement, as this causes fatigue, muscle stiffness and injury. | Emphasizes violent movements of the muscles. This produces large quantities of lactic acid in the muscle fibers, causing fatigue. |
| Regards physical body as an instrument for the journey to perfection. | Designed to develop muscles for a stylish body. |
| Satvic – Designed to develop mental faculties and concentration. | Rajasic – violent movements increase adrenaline to stimulate the mind. |
| Health is a state of body when all the organs function perfectly under the intelligent control of the mind. Exercise is seen as balanced with the five points. | A strong body is necessary to undergo stresses and strains of daily life. However the mind is not in control, short-term health may give license to indulge in an unhealthy life-style with abuse of steroids, stimulants, alcohol, drugs, sex, etc. |
| The stretching of muscle forces blood through the valves of the veins; inverted postures use gravity to force the blood back to the heart. All of this increases the volume of blood circulated. See Starling’s Law. | Relies aerobic exercise to increase heart pumping and thereby circulation. This produces tremendous strain on the heart. |
| Muscle fatigue is counteracted through proper breathing and relaxation. | Violent movements exceed the muscle and circulation limits causing fatigue. |
| Relaxation is done systematically to pay off oxygen debt resulting from the build up of lactic acid in the system. Yoga emphasizes slow-motion exercises, with deep breathing and periods of relaxation. | The greatest limiting factor for the maintenance of severe exertion is oxygen supply. Because the intake of oxygen often cannot meet the muscular demands for it, lactic acid is accumulated in muscle and in the blood and fatigue sets in. |
| Takes into account the major factors influencing the efficiency of a muscular act: Temperature (warm-up) Viscosity (internal friction) Speed of performance (slow to moderate) Initial stretch of the muscles Fatigue (oxygen debt) | When attention is not paid to warming up and stretching muscles, violent movements can damage muscles causing long-term stiffness. Though injuries may pass when young they often return when older. |
| Helps to keep muscles elastic. | Development of excessive muscle causes stiffness. |
| Helps to keep arteries elastic and maintain an even supply of blood to every part of the body. |
