If 5-kilometer jogging taught me about rhythm and endurance, then yoga has taught me about stability and awareness.
Running is the power to move forward. Yoga, on the other hand, is the power to look inward.
Many years ago, when I first encountered yoga, it wasn't for shaping my figure, but simply because my body felt tense- Sitting for long periods, standing for long periods, and working with my head down, my body seemed to be gradually locked up.
It wasn't until I truly calmed down and did some stretching for the first time that I realized - it wasn't that I was tired, but that my body had long been neglected and not treated gently.
Yoga is not a form of exhaustion, but rather a process of restoration.
Unlike running, yoga has very little antagonistic nature.
It is not as intense as basketball, nor does it pursue explosive power like high-intensity training.
It is more like a slow and continuous restoration mechanism.
The Indian yoga master B. K. S. Iyengar once said: “Yoga teaches us to heal what we cannot endure, and endure what cannot be healed.”
I increasingly understand this statement.
When I was young and not very focused, I regarded it as just entertainment.
As I grew older, my body's flexibility declined, and my whole body felt stiff. After each yoga session, the muscles and bones in my body were stretched, and I felt much lighter as if I had undergone a healing process.
The benefits of yoga do not lie in "how well you practice", but rather in the fact that it can accompany you for a lifetime.
The Changes It Has Made for Me
Over the years, I have gradually come to realize several things:
- My body posture has become more relaxed.
- My back and waist no longer feel stiff.
- My mood fluctuations have become more stable.
- I sleep deeper.
More importantly, it has taught me to "stop".
In a fast-paced life, yoga is an active way to slow down. And slowing down is itself a kind of ability.
Why is yoga a long-term asset?
If we view healthy behaviors from the perspective of asset management, I would define yoga as follows:
- Low cost
- Sustainable
- Can be done independently
- Low risk
- Grows over time
Unlike explosive exercises that may cause injuries, yoga operates almost within a "safe zone".
It is like a long-term holding asset with stable returns.Unshowy, but reliable.
One of the global promoters of yoga, Pattabhi Jois, once emphasized the importance of long-term practice - not pursuing the difficulty of poses, but the continuous daily practice.
This is completely in line with the underlying logic of long-termism.
Why running and yoga?
The combination of dynamic and static compound effects: Running enhances the heart and lungs. Yoga maintains joints and flexibility.
One expands outward, the other repairs inward.
When exercise no longer aims at "burning calories", but at "maintaining", it transforms from a consumption-oriented behavior to an enhancement-oriented one. This is exactly how I view health now.
There are many ways to exercise. Basketball, swimming, gym training, ball games, competitions... all are great.
But ultimately, I have chosen running and yoga for a long time. The reason is simple - they are the most controllable.
No need to make a reservation for a venue
No reliance on others' cooperation
No time limit
Almost no need for complex equipment
Just a pair of shoes and a mat, and you can start.
When an activity is not dependent on external conditions, its probability of persistence will significantly increase.
The habits that truly accompany one's entire life are often not the most dazzling ones, but the most stable ones.
Controllability itself is the foundation of long-termism.
The combination of movement and stillness generates compound effects.
Running strengthens the heart and lungs. Yoga maintains joints and flexibility. One expands outward, and the other repairs inward.
When exercise no longer aims at "burning calories", but at "maintenance", it transforms from a consumption behavior to an value-adding actions.
This is exactly how I view health now.
Occasionally, I also incorporate some strength exercises, such as squats, push-ups and planks.
【From Whelan Yoga to Power Flow: How I Integrated Pilates and Squats into My Yoga Practice】
The company of the yoga mat
When it comes to yoga, I always think of that yoga mat that has been with me for over twenty years.
It's not expensive and doesn't have any special commemorative value.But during the time when I was sorting out old things, I naturally kept it.
Many old things have long been out of sight, but only this one has always been there.
I can't even explain why it is so durable.
It's just that one day when I looked back, suddenly I realized - this insignificant object actually witnessed my persistence for such a long time.
Nowadays, as time goes by and I increasingly incorporate yoga into my life, this yoga mat acquires a special significance. It can serve as a witness to my long-term dedication.
It is quiet and unobtrusive. Yet, like a steadily held asset, it slowly appreciates over the years.
True sense of security
When society changes rapidly, careers become unstable, and the environment is uncontrollable -
If a person:
- Has the ability to continuously learn
- Has the ability to manage emotions stably
- Has a sustainable physical condition
She will not be easily left behind by the times.
Running gives me rhythm. Yoga gives me stability. They are not sports hobbies, but my practice of long-termism.
If compound interest in assets requires time, then the body is the most honest compound interest system.
And yoga is the part of my assets that I am willing to hold for a lifetime.
Running and yoga are not because they are the most popular, but because they are the most controllable.
And controllability is my first principle in building a long-termist life.
-------Extended Reading and Resource-------
If you like yoga, start by picking a beautiful 【yoga mat】.
The books and tools I mentioned are part of my curated toolkit. If you're interested, I've compiled them all on [My reading list ] & [My everyday toolkit] page for easy access.