HIIT, or High-Intensity Interval Training, is all the rage these days. It has the potential to boost your metabolic rate and improve your cardiovascular health. People all over the country are hailing HIIT training as the be-all and end-all of fitness. Is it, however, true?

I respectfully disagree with you. While HIIT workouts are great for the seasoned athlete looking to up their game or the serious workout powerhouse looking to switch things up, research shows that yoga is the way to go for building muscle mass, increasing mobility and flexibility, and preventing injury in the general population.

Don't get me wrong: HIIT workouts have undeniable health benefits, but they aren't for everyone. If you've lived a mostly sedentary lifestyle, are trying to lose weight, or have an injury, HIIT workouts are something you'll have to work up to; they're not a good place to start.

Yoga, on the other hand, can be modified for people of all ages and fitness levels, as well as for injuries and physical disabilities, and there are a variety of styles and practices to choose from. There's a yoga out there for everyone, from Hatha to Vinyasa Flow to Bikram, that will meet your workout needs and help you achieve your goals.

According to the American Osteopathic Association, yoga has a variety of health benefits, including stress reduction, blood pressure reduction, improved respiration, and increased cardiovascular and circulatory health. Because yoga includes a meditation component, it is frequently used by millions of people all over the world as a coping mechanism as well as exercise.

Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years for a reason. While celebrity-endorsed workout programs come and go, yoga has been a time-honored tradition in India for centuries, bringing a higher level of health, wellness, and consciousness to those who incorporate it into their daily routine. Give it a shot and see what happens both physically and mentally inside you. You might really like what you find.

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