Why Cardio is bad for you!

Even before yoga training, I knew that cardio was bad for our body. Mostly because I have an anatomist friend and another who is specialized in muscles and bones. So they told me the result of joint stress like on knees and lower back due to extreme sports and strenuous exercises. I did not need that much convincing to stop running or jogging as I'd get this pain on my lower ab when I ran too much, too fast or too long.
After awhile, I got into yoga then yoga training and my master teacher said that cardio was stress for the heart therefore not so good for the heart, unlike what we thought in North America.
I read another study where it said that a sure way to get older faster is to do cardio regularly and vigorously.
Alternative medicine doctors and Integrative Medicine doctors would definitely tell you to stay away from exhausting workouts and stick to yoga, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and breathing techniques like Pranayama to get stronger hearts and lungs.

Swimming is fine if you do leisurely time to time but not as chronic cardio way like in a competition.

Suddenly going into cycling will be a sure way to add stress to quads and heart. Plus the back is rounded in this postures. A lot of cyclists complain of back pain, shoulders and neck pain due to the repeated bad posture.

This is part of Triathlon. Competition means that they had to train hard before this day and that means they are on chronic cardio mode and that is bad for the heart unfortunately.

Research among people who run marathons, ironman triathlons and other extreme sports suggest that cardio can cause heart dysfunction, plaque buildup and stiff arteries. Just after a race, some runners had cardiac problems like weakened right ventricle. Some recovered, but some elite athletes had long lasting consequences due to endurance training, race and competitions.

Cardio can cause weight gain. Cardio means our body will go into fight or flight mode like when we were a caveman. So running means stress, which means cortisol. A little bit of it might be useful but too much of it will wreck havoc to your health.
Producing too much cortisol will instruct your brain to store fat around mid-area and will inhibit the body's ability to process sugar. If sugar is not processed properly, then weight gain.

Sure way to get some form of exercise while keeping heart calm, balance hormones and nervous system = yoga with alignment cues from a good yoga teacher who knows how to correct and adapt to each individual's needs.

Recent news: one of my client with scoliosis got her test results and it showed that our hard work paid off! Her scoliosis got half of what it used to be when she started a year ago! So always have hope and yoga can do miracles!

Our society, especially if you live in an urban area with work and family, busy schedule, we live in anxious place. So to make yourself healthy in and out, it does not mean go for exercises that will be even more anxious like your work, but have to find a way to balance that anxiety with something more calming and cooling like Yin Yoga perhaps.

Find out more in Ayurveda which dosha (constitution) you are so you can find a way to balance your Vata (wind), Pitta (fire), or Kapha (earth). www.ayamtl.com