Unlike many other forms of exercise, yoga is unique in that it combines the exercise of both the mind and the body. The physical actions in yoga are complemented by mental actions all with the goal of achieving a calmer and more peaceful state. As far as physical exertion goes, yoga requires careful positioning and stretching of the body via predetermined poses and moves. It is very low-impact on the joints, but still has great results for the muscles. To improve your mental state, yoga includes calming breathing exercises, and in some cases, meditation. This combination of these physical and mental exercises can lead to the great benefits described below.
Flexibility: Regardless of age or weight, yoga can increase a person's flexibility. And you don’t even have to be flexible to start doing yoga. Introductory classes have yoga instructors that will teach you how to do the poses to the best of your ability. By practicing these poses and incorporating the breathing techniques you will find your flexibility quickly improves and you can do more and more poses correctly as time goes by. This is in large part because of the gradual stretching of the muscles and an increased range of motion in the joints.
Strength: The variety of poses in yoga help build muscles in key areas of the body, including arms, legs, and the abdomen. Because you hold the poses for long periods of time, your muscles are forced to work harder to keep the body balanced and in the correct position. Those who do yoga frequently
notice an increase in muscle tone as a result of their workouts. The amazing thing about yoga is that using your own body is the weight with which you build your strength. No machines or hand weights are required.
Posture: Because yoga is so effective for strengthening the core muscles in the stomach, most people notice an increase in their core strength. This improves posture and protects your back from strain, helping you appear confident and healthy.
Balance: Many of the poses in yoga require excellent balance. Some participants may not master this at first. However, after practicing for a few weeks, many improve their balance and hold poses for longer periods of time. Coordination and athleticism can also improve as you become more balanced, which means you'll be less likely to injure yourself in other situations.
Circulation: Doing yoga typically leads to better circulation in the body. The more efficient your body is when it comes to circulation, the better equipped it will be to transport nutrients and oxygen throughout your body each and every day. This can result in a wide variety of healthy benefits, including lower blood pressure and healthier organs.
Endurance: Despite the fact that there is no running or jogging involved in yoga, it can actually increase your endurance. This is in large part because yoga helps to lower your heart rate and improve the oxygenation in your body. This leads to better cardiovascular health and, in turn, improved endurance.
Stress: Because yoga requires a kind of quiet concentration and deep breathing exercises, it typically draws away the stresses of the day and leads to a more peaceful state. By lowering stress on a regular basis, you can often improve your health and your quality of life.
Energy: One of the key benefits of practicing yoga is that it can leaves participants feeling energized rather than tired after a workout. The quiet, slow and deliberate movements of yoga get you the workout you need without using up all of your energy.
Weight: Yoga helps increase your metabolism while also providing a calming, low-impact workout. That's why yoga is a great way to start shedding extra pounds and start leading a healthier lifestyle.
Chronic Conditions: Some people with chronic conditions find that yoga can help keep their symptoms at bay or relieve some of the pain they experience on a regular basis. Some of the chronic conditions which may be alleviated by yoga are sleeping disorders, cancer, depression and anxiety.
There are a few easy tips for maximizing the health benefits of yoga listed here. First, make sure you always warm up your muscles before doing a yoga class, or any exercise for that matter. Ask your instructor if a warm-up will be included at the beginning of the session or if you should do this beforehand. Second, try to combine your yoga routine with healthy eating habits. This will increase the amount yoga health benefits you will experience, especially weight loss and increased energy.
Finally, be sure to talk to your doctor if you have one of the following risk factors or conditions as it may not be safe to practice yoga in these situations:
Pregnancy
Artificial joints
Osteoporosis
High blood pressure
Balance problems
Wishing you a FIT day! Shonna Kaldwell Independent Beachbody Coach
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