The wellness component of Purposeful Training at the Los Gatos Athletic Club teaches stress reduction through the ancient practices of yoga, tai chi, and massage. Incorporating deep abdominal breathing and long, static muscle stretching the individual can achieve deeper relaxation, release tight muscles post work–out, and work towards lowered blood pressure and heart rate.
Awareness of the breath while inhaling and exhaling completely are fundamental to traditional yoga practice. Patterns of breath are also used in purposeful training to maximize safety and effectiveness of the movements. When breath is used to encourage relaxation its true power can be manifested.
A class in the basics of breathing will include fundamental physiological information about what happens when you breathe, awareness of the location of the breath and how it feels to breathe from the diaphragm, and basic exercises to enable the client to focus on the breath during movement. Applying these techniques will bring relaxation to the muscles, calmness to the mind, and a sense of rejuvenation to the spirit.
In the way that breathing relaxes the body/mind, stretching relaxes the muscles. Stretching elongates muscles tightened by vigorous physical activity and helps release unnecessary pressure on joints. Long, slow, static stretches bring length to areas shortened by weight bearing exercise. Joints must be taken through their full range of motion regularly or muscles will atrophy and movement will become restricted. Instruction in stretching will balance out the body after purposeful training and help keep flexibility at its peak.
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