Volume 2, Issue 9
September 2010

Enjoy the Health Benefits of Practicing Yoga

What is Yoga?

Yoga is a system of physical and mental practices that originated in India more than 5,000 years ago. It includes exercises for deep breathing, body movement, meditation, and relaxation. The purpose of yoga is to improve physical, emotional, and mental health. Yoga is a highly refined system that works on developing and balancing strength and flexibility, stamina, focus and endurance.

The Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga has been researched extensively and is known to have health benefits for the body, mind, and spirit.  Some common benefits include:

• Lower blood pressure
• Decreased stress
• Greater flexibility
• Enhanced brain function
• Lower cholesterol
• Better skeletal alignment
• Strengthened bones/joints
• Improved respiration
• Weight loss
• Enhanced circulation
• Easier transition through menopause
• Deeper peace of mind

 Both Men and Women Can Benefit from Yoga

Yoga boosts energy and speeds up your body’s recovery. Even some NFL players swear by it! It is important for men in particular to remember that yoga is about total body strength, and results take time. Certain yoga poses can help with weight lifting. The cobra pose tones and strengthens the entire spine. Warrior I will strengthen your legs and balances hip strength. If you are looking for an intense workout, try Bikram yoga, where a person can burn up to 600 calories during a 90-minute session. But, make sure to combine Bikram yoga with cardio or resistance training. Practicing yoga can also help you when you run, because it loosens chronically tight areas like hamstrings and hips. In order to realign your body and release tension from connective tissue try the fish pose with legs in cobbler or the hero pose. Yoga also strengthens your core muscles. Try poses like the boat pose, and the twisting prayer lunge.
 
Additional Facts