5 Reasons to take Yoga Sculpt (especially women over 40)
That thought process needs to change. Why is giving women confidence in strength training so important? Because strength training for women is not just about the way we look. It’s literally lifesaving as we age.
Combining Yoga Sculpt with your regular yoga classes is the SECRET SAUCE!
Sure, it’s nice to have a bit more definition in our arms and legs, but really, it’s critical for creating the body we can confidently grow older in.
Below are five reasons why women over 40 need to strength train: (from
1. Decrease Muscle Loss
On average, sedentary women lose between 3 to 8 percent of their muscle every decade after 30 years old, with the decline increasing during perimenopause and post-menopause. This decline can lead to an increased risk of falls and injuries as well as just overall weakness. Lifting weights can help preserve that muscle or even reverse any loss as you gain muscle mass.
2. Increase Bone Density
After 40, women lose an average of 0.4% bone density per year. Decreased bone density can lead to osteoporosis, especially post-menopause. Lifting weights actually makes your bones stronger. It helps maintain bone density and ward off osteoporosis.
3. Increase Functional Movement
Lifting can help improve physical function in simple everyday activities like carrying in groceries from the car, getting down on the floor to play with children or grandchildren, walking up the stairs, or carrying a heavy item. These are all daily functions that we need to be able to do with ease, well into our 80s. So, doing them now with weights allows us to do that. Strength training preserves that ability to move and improves our quality of life as we age.
4. Improve Quality of Life
Having strong muscles lowers the risk of pain in our backs, shoulders and necks. Lifting weights can improve hot flashes and night sweats, and improve quality of sleep and mental health for women during perimenopause and menopause.
5. Mitigate Weight Gain
As we age, we tend to move less. A common misconception is that cardio is the way to go for weight loss. We see it in the gym all the time - the men are lifting weights and the majority of women are on the elliptical, treadmill, or stair machine. There’s a misconception among the way women are going about their weight loss. While cardio is important for overall heart health, lifting weights is the best option for mitigating the middle age weight gain.
It’s never too late. We hear women say it all the time, feeling as if they are too old to start lifting weights now, but it’s actually the exact opposite. It’s because you are aging that strength training becomes critical for your overall well-being. Strength training is one of the most powerful things a woman over 40 can do to stay healthy and strong, especially as she enters menopause.
(courtesy of Darlene Cancell)
Ready to give Yoga Sculpt at try at Twist Yoga?
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Tues/Thurs at 9:30a
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Sun at 8a