From Sweat-Centric to Breath-Centric

The shift our workouts deserve.

- M. Tariq

If the growth figures are to be believed, Fitness Industry never had it so good. From 18-20 percent growth in 2012 to a survey prediction that says 30 million Indians will use fitness services by 2023, it is obvious that love for fitness is spreading like wildfire and it is all set to become a commoner choice and a family affair in times to come. The choices are endless and customer-centric. There is something for everyone and every day new fitness formats, diet plans are being launched to ensure fitness enthusiasts have something ‘new’ and challenging to try, post, and pay for.

Whether you are into Yoga, HIIT, Pilates, Zumba, kickboxing, cardio dance, barre, or outdoor activities like running and cycling, or a moody fitness enthusiast, it is important to remember the one thing that makes all and any workout worth your while: the breath.

While the focus in most exercises is mainly on the form and how graceful, strong, or fierce a person is looking while working out, or how many calories one is burning, the breath takes a back seat. For most of us, it is something to be focused upon when in a meditation class but not while working out. While all instructors give breathing cues, and students follow them, it is rarely a mindful activity. Even in Yoga, where the focus on breathing is of utmost importance, most of us end up focusing on the Yang part of it (the asanas) more than the awareness of breath. The result: we unconsciously pick fitness, bypassing wellness when we have the choice of having both!