What is your energy type -- masculine or feminine?
What is your exercise type -- Yin or Yang?
Let's find out.
But first, a little flashback on Yin and Yang. They deserve an introduction.
The principle of Yin and Yang is a fundamental concept in Chinese philosophy and culture dating back to the third century BC or even earlier. The principle is about all the things that exist that are inseparable and contradictory opposites, for example female-male, dark-light and old-young.
My body automatically tunes to display masculine/Yang energy when I work.
Here I'm going to focus on masculine and feminine energies. Both are unique, different. But do men and women possess both? Yes, of course. Why? Researchers who study biofield and aura surmise that 80% of women display 80% feminine/Yin energy and 80% of men display 80% masculine /Yang energy; 10% of women display 80% Yang energies and similarly 10% men display Yin. The remaining 10% of men and women display equally each of the unique energies (I am not talking about being gay or transsexual although, personally, I think they are amazing).
Confused? Read on!
When masculine/Yang energy comes into play, it would result in the human body displaying properties of being focused, solid, rigid, fixed, strong and organized; this energy is centrifugal or centred inwards.
The exact opposite would be feminine/Yin energy which is centripetal or outward in nature and the body would have properties like being expansive, fluid, creative, sensitive, absorbent, encompassing.
Neither energy is superior to the other -- as an increase in one brings a corresponding decrease in the other, a correct balance between the two must be reached in order to achieve harmony.
Enlightened enough?
What's your energy?
Now let's put ourselves to a test. Which category do we fall under?
I have the privilege to lead the country for an international fitness brand, Zumba, and have been responsible for its growth in every city of India, managing 3000 licensed instructors for 18 hours a day for the last four years .Which category do you think I fall under? Of course I fall under the category of women who display 80% Yang energy.
If you are an art teacher for special needs children it would be safe to assume you display 80% feminine/Yin energy, regardless of what your biological sex is.
My body automatically tunes to display masculine/Yang energy when I work.
But if you are an art teacher for special needs children it would be safe to assume you display 80% feminine/Yin energy, regardless of what your biological sex is.
Hope this is making sense, and by now you have figured out which energies you possess for the maximum time in a day.
Once we become very aware of our Yin and Yang energies, choosing a fitness program for our well-being becomes a holistic choice for our health, rather than a blind following of the latest fitness trend.
How it works
If you are the VP of the top Airline Industry of India and have a meeting with the board of directors for a new proposal today or you are a super-mom and about to throw a birthday party for twenty 4-year-old little human creatures the stress is similar (I can see the moms nodding their head in united agreement).
The body and brain automatically switch the masculine/Yang energy flood gates. We need the dude in the house today.
Now the fun part is this. If you are feeling under-confident in executing stressful tasks, whether it's the gruelling meeting or the crazy birthday party, which workout should you choose to bring out the Yang energy... of course, I would choose a rigorous high intensity workout like kickboxing or Krav Maga. Eureka! You are getting my drift now.
If I am already tripping on crazy Yang energy, I would call out to my Yin side since my babe energy would help to soothe me.
But if I am already tripping on crazy Yang energy, I would call out to my Yin side since my babe energy would help to soothe me. How do I bring her in? Go party at a Zumba fitness class or attend a peaceful yoga meditation class.
The changes that I have noticed increasingly in my clients once they have embraced their Yin and Yang energies (or the babe and dude energies) have been incredible.
Be in tune with your Yin and Yang and the greater awareness of being can do wonders to your exercise choices.
This understanding, starting today, will give you the tools to unleash your greatest potential at work or at home, at a business meeting or your kids' PTA meet, on the golf course or at the night club.