Dear Yoga Student,
The U.S. army has made some radical changes in training soldiers…
… instead of distance running and situps (both of which so often lead to injuries), many training programs now incorporate yoga and Pilates-like exercises combined with sprints and interval training.
Why?
Tons of recruits are overweight, weak, and unfit (more than ever before) – and this new training regime seems to be a safer and more effective way to train.
This is one of the reasons I LOVE yoga. It’s holistic and safe, regardless of your age and entry point.
Plus, it’s really REALLY effective. So if running 12 miles with a 30 lbs rucksack each morning sounds like torture to you, never fear, do your Sun Salutes instead knowing that perhaps the U.S. Army are doing them now too (though I’m sure they do about 10x as many as you and I:)
Stay bendy,
Lucas
YOGABODY Naturals LLC
Yoga Swing for Backbends
p.s. Please share your thoughts below, and to see
the original article, go here: NY Times Article Yoga/Army
at 9:56 am - 8th September 2010 Permalink
I strongly disagree with the idea of doing morning meditation and sun salutations, and then going out and bombing the *u*k out of someone. Non-harming is one of the fundamentals of the eight limbs of Yoga.
at 4:38 am - 9th September 2010 Permalink
When these precious men and woman go to defend our freedom, i wish them im the best shape possible. Mentally and physically. The military has her own ways to toughen people up.
Yoga gives people a special edge and i am very glad the dared to include it even though it has a soft image.
Zeph is not wrong, but i think the welfare of our soldiers has to be number 1 now
at 5:11 am - 18th October 2010 Permalink
That is nice. What if they end up choosing yoga over war??