Yoga vs HIIT

Brain vs Bod. Photo: Thinkstock

Some people firmly believe that a quality workout always involves breaking a sweat. Whereas, the yogis of the world are living proof that mindful based practices are a sure fire way to look toned and fabulous in a pair of yoga pants, too.

As well as being a great way to tone and strengthen, mindful based practices like Yoga and Pilates are of course linked to health of the mind.

Whereas, on the other end of the scale, science shows that there’s no better way to burn off your cheat meal than cold (or hot), hard cardio.

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Both are hailed for their health promoting benefits but when it comes down to the wire, which is best? And more importantly, which is better suited to you and your body?

To help you out, here’s the lowdown on each style of training.

HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)

HIIT consist of brief bursts of very vigorous exercise paired with brief recovery periods. HIIT has hit fashionable heights and rightly so. HIIT is designed for those who have energy to burn, have body composition conditioning in mind, are seeking to improve cardiovascular endurance and want to boost metabolic rate post-training.

“HIIT training is the most affective forms of training to create the after burn effect, which relates to the number of calories burnt post exercise.” Explains Blake Worrall-Thompson, Fitness Expert.

“HIIT training as a posed to slow and steady training will create more calories burnt and lean muscle build post workout than slow and steady forms of training. HIIT training when done at the right intensity will give you more of an endorphin hit and can be more beneficial [than mindful based practices] from a stress point of view.”

For the time-conscious, HIIT is an attractive pick. Routines can be undertaken in as little as 30 minutes, offering a quick and effective way to fast-track fitness goals.

Mindful Based Practices

If your body is calling out for you to hit pause, favouring exercises, which involves deep breathing such as t’ai chi, yoga and Pilates may be your calling. When we live life in the fast lane, our body is forced to be on high alert in a constant state of stress. At the outset, this may help us break through the daily grind. However, in the background it may be wreaking havoc on digestion, fat burning ability and emotional health.

"Yoga and meditation allow for total body immersion. By aligning breath with movement, you can switch off from the world and experience complete you time. It's such a great way to wake up, wind down or take a break in the middle of a hectic day," says Bree Pratt, Yoga Instructor.

We ultimately want to go by our days in rest and digest mode which signals to our body we are safe and at ease. And a surefire way to get your body to relax is by deep slow breathing. Yes, it is that simple! Research has shown 5.5 breaths per minute is associated with the highest rest and digestive activity and results in significantly increased feelings of relaxation #winning!

Yoga. Photo: Thinkstock

Interested in both?

If you’re keen to mix it up and want to dip your toes in both ponds, you might find yourself in a bit of strife when signing up to a program. Often classes tend to be sorely orientated to the type of exercise they are, so it can be pricey signing up to two separate programs.

Cue Classpass, an awesome international program that’s just hit Sydney and Melbourne. For a monthly fee you’ll have access to tons of amazing studios and classes, with a huge range of different exercises – featuring everything from Barre to Crossfit.