Sports
How Strength Training and Yoga Help Rediscover the Body
Pietra Palma explains how stepping back from running exclusively made room for strength training and self-care practices.
After scaling back her exclusive focus on running, Pietra Palma discovered new avenues for physical and mental connection through strength training and yoga. Short morning flows and lifting weights without performance pressure completely transformed her fitness routine.
When injury and schedule adjustments forced her to temporarily step away from running, Pietra Palma discovered a new path to reconnecting with her body through other sports. The transition—which included stints with footvolley, beach tennis, and martial arts—eventually anchored two complementary practices in her daily routine: lifting weights for the pure enjoyment of working out and practicing yoga as a self-care ritual.
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From an obligation to a pleasure in strength training
Once viewed almost as a chore meant strictly for joint protection—focused on strengthening the lower body to withstand the high impact of running sessions—gym workouts took on a whole new meaning. With running no longer taking center stage, lifting weights became a spontaneous choice, free from the constant worry of saving her legs for the next day's interval sessions or long runs.
Yoga: breath, alignment, and morning presence
Yoga, which first entered Pietra's routine in 2020 as a gateway to wellness, has returned to the spotlight. Far beyond the physical demand of complex poses, the practice serves as an active meditation: it aligns movement with breath and gently awakens the body.
To maintain consistency without the pressure of peak performance, she opted for simplicity: short 5- to 20-minute morning practices on the mat at home, following online classes on YouTube (such as Pri Leite's challenges) or intuitive flows. This approach prioritizes consistency over perfection, serving as a reminder that flexibility is built gradually and that you don't need to be flexible to start.
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