Adding free weights to your yoga practice increases muscle awareness and boosts lean muscle mass and flexibility. Plus, the added cardio bursts in this workout will increase your cardiovascular endurance and elevate your heart rate for maximum calorie burn! 

Weight training can be an efficient way for bendy types to build strength and bolster muscle awareness so that they’re working from a place of integration in the body, tapping into equal amounts of flexibility and strength in their poses. It results in integrated flexibility, that is, flexibility without strength is out of balance, and strength without flexibility is, too. 

Weight training combined with yoga practice can also be a great way to maintain strength as you age. Countless studies show that a lack of exercise can lead to muscle mass decline beginning at age 40. If you stay sedentary, by the age of 70 you could lose about 30 percent of your muscle mass. Lifting weights two to three times per week builds muscle and bone density and helps with balance. And although doing yoga regularly can bring similar benefits, it’s important to introduce your body to new challenges from time to time to avoid hitting a plateau.