To gym or not to gym? It’s a tough question. Especially if you practice yoga regularly. For me, a regular practice is a minimum of 3 times a week. More if I can create the time because I need to practice often as my progress is so glacially slow. Also my history of joint weakness and injury mean if I stand still, in reality I’m going backwards.

Then there is the time element. 1.5 hour class 3-4 times a week (with travel time added) is a massive chunk out of the week, so in practical terms its hard to find time to fit in other forms of exercise. But recently I’ve been wanting to change my wellness routine. And I’ve been putting in some extra time doing classes at the gym.

I’ve found that certain classes compliment my practice better than others. I avoid using resistance machines or traditional weight-training they definitely have a stiffening impact on my yoga practice. I also find doing weight training alone incredibly boring. If I select classes that encourage natural movement and variety my yoga practice can benefit. Swimming, circuit training and classes like Body Pump are all types of exercise that I think compliment yoga well

I’ve recently started short lunchtime 30 minute ViPR ("Vitality, performance and reconditioning"). I really enjoy these classes, they are short, you are working with additional weight so you can build strength, and the exercises are natural and flowing. In short classes have a lot in common with yoga, but with added load and an aerobic element.

And of course a short 30 minutes lunchtime session helps me saving time for those essential 90 minutes yoga classes.