While we’re bombarded with commercials telling us about products to help us lose weight, get great abs and tone our muscles, we very seldom hear about yoga – an exercise that can do all of that and more.
Seen as many just as a way to maintain flexibility – something your everyday muscle building won’t do – yoga’s benefits extend far beyond that to a wide range of physical and psychological benefits.
Flexibility is recognized as the single biggest benefit of yoga. The positions the yoga practitioner can place himself in can leave many people shocked, if you’ve ever seen a yoga class or website. Yoga can help increase the range of motion in your hamstrings, back shoulder and hips.
Yoga positions, some of which are held in long periods of time, also helps build strength and muscle tone. Your balance will also improve while learning the poses.
By increasing flexibility and strength, some types of pain may be prevented. After a long drive, imagine how good it would feel when you go for a stretch. Yoga extends this to much of your body and can help with back pains, shoulder pain and even carpal tunnel pain, among others.
Breathing is a very essential focus of yoga. Learning to breathe slower and deeper as you move through poses can benefit your entire body. Your better breathing technique may initially cause some light-headedness during yoga as your blood carries a better supply of oxygen, so be prepared. You will get used to it and is likely to happen the first couple of times. Reducing stress and pain managements is one of the advantages of controlled breathing.
Exercising can give both mental and physical which come from endorphins, concentration and calmness is where the benefits of yoga comes from. To calm your thoughts and to reduce stress, yoga encourages you to focus on your breathing as you move in to each position. Yoga in the evening can help you prepare your mind and body for sleep due to it’s relaxing nature.
Enrolling in a class, buying a video or watching a show is just as easy as beginning to practice yoga. A carpeted area or a yoga mat and loose or flexible clothes are also needed. Whether in a class or alone, pay attention to your body. Use a modification of a pose if you feel pain while attempting it or you can try again once you’ve gained the strength and flexibility for it. Poses will become easier and you’ll find that toga can be a fulfilling way to spend “you” time if you continue to do it.
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