EXERCISE VS YOGA: WHICH IS BETTER FOR TEACHERS?

 

A teacher's job is a hectic one, from teaching the kids to focusing on their holistic development, helping them in distress, shaping their personality, and grading the papers. All of this makes it quite challenging to take out time to think about one's physical and mental health if we also add the work in the family.

But indulging in some physical activity regularly is essential as it keeps many diseases away and helps increase concentration, releases hormones like endorphins, and reduces levels of adrenaline and cortisol, which are hormones that cause stress. 

It is essential to remain physically active and healthy regardless of the profession one is in. It keeps us in good shape and improves one's efficiency of working, reduces procrastination, helps regulate the body temperature, and keeps our mind calm, especially if the person is short-tempered. 

Now, if you are ready to take out some time out of your busy schedule, you might wonder if you want to start exercising or practice and learn yoga. While both of them have pretty similar benefits, a few things separate them from one another. Top international schools in India did a survey on this and here were the outcomes-

As a teacher, one often has to wake up and get dressed in the morning to reach schools or colleges. On top of that, many people also have the responsibility of making breakfast, packing lunch, and getting the kids ready. Under such circumstances, it might not be the best idea to go for an early morning walk or jog or simply workout.

As the teachers have to be active throughout the day in their respective institutions, morning exercise might lead to fatigue and tiredness, which can slack your teaching. However, if you do yoga in the morning, it leads to stretching muscles, awakens all your senses, and brings all the energy to the center, making one feel highly energetic for the day. 

Although exercise has a very significant role to play, there is a reason we often see people choosing yoga. A regular walk, jog, aerobics, or gymming can help you maintain your physical health, help in reducing or maintaining weight, regulate body temperature, and helps in muscle building. On the one hand, where all of this is important, a teacher also needs to focus on mindfulness.

This is where yoga becomes a better choice. It does not only help in maintaining a healthy body but also focuses on working on spirituality. Yoga involves simple exercises that people of all ages can do. It consists of stretching, which gives a relaxed feeling after the end of the session. Not only this but yoga also helps a person in calming down their mind. Yoga involves chanting, meditating, and focusing on one's breathing. All of this makes people understand and feel the greater meaning of life.

Not only this, but yoga asanas are also effective against various diseases. Yoga asanas and pranayams can help cure a range of diseases or problems such as joint pain, frequent headaches, diabetes, eyesight problems, and many such conditions that can negatively affect our living standards. Yoga is also highly effective against mental issues such as distress, anxiety, insomnia or other sleeping disorders, emotional exhaustion, etc. 

If you are a teacher, you probably have a lot already on your shoulder, but it is, of course, not a crime to take out some time for one's physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. It is better for a teacher, or usually, any other person, to choose yoga as yoga takes care of all three spheres and leads to a healthier lifestyle.