It is hard to believe that not long ago people in the west regarded “yoga” as nothing more than a bizarre lifestyle of a few vegetarian enthusiasts twisting their bodies into weird, seemingly impossible positions. Today, almost everyone is familiar with at least the basic principles of yoga and many have come to appreciate its genuine benefits through their own practice.
Many of us are drawn to yoga as a way to keep our bodies lean, fit, and supple. Others want to get a relief from back pain, tension, and stiffness. Some are merely looking for variety or a more meaningful alternative to gyms and treadmills. Whichever the reason, yoga has something to offer to everybody:
- Yoga does wonders to increase flexibility, stretch ligaments, lubricate joints, and tone muscles - just 10 daily minutes of the Sun Salutation sequence will eventually cure your morning stiffness.
- Some of the asanas, especially Forward Bends, have a capacity to trim your tummy.
- Yoga is a wonderful way to restore elasticity of the spine and improve posture - Tree, Bridge, and Plough are the most effective postures for the health of your back.
- Headstand and Shoulderstand both aid to the flow of blood to the brain, which results in better thinking and improved memory.
- Almost all yoga postures massage internal glands and organs, which helps the proper functioning of various body systems, including the most vulnerable endocrine, digestive, and cardiovascular ones.
- Regular meditation at the end of your yoga session helps to calm your mind and decrease anxiety and depression.
- Breathing exercises, or “pranayama“, an essential part of yoga practice, will expand your lung capacity and improve the flow of the vital energy (“prana“) within your subtle body.
Moreover, yoga is a perfect and pleasurable method to maintain peace and balance and to lead you towards spiritual self-realization - the self-realization that we are all seeking, consciously or unconsciously, and towards which we are all gradually evolving…
Photos by myyogaonline, Slaff
About the Author
Amanda Brown is our Healthy Lifestyle Expert. Amanda lives in Canada, and her background includes Degrees in Ethnology, History, and Wholistic Therapies. Her true passion, though, lies in the fields of traditional nutrition, history of medicine… learn more about Amanda here.
Tags: Health & Fitness, Women's Health, - Wellness, - Cool Stuff, Noteworthy, meditation, healthy lifestyle
I have become a heath freak, since i am into internet marketing, my work inclines towards sitting… i have foung yoga very good and maintaining peace of mind. I have experienced these benefits myself.
Every little thing you wrote about yoga is true… It’s absolutely wonderful, there is nothing like it, I go to yoga classes twice a week and I just can not imagine how I lived without it! Join in, guys!
Yoga is awesome! Everyone should try it!
Yoga is really great for my health both physical and emotional. I like it very much, and I think more people should practice Yoga. Thank you for this article!
The yoga class I went to once was the worst 2 hours of my life ever! It was so booooring!!! I wonder if all yoga classes are that bad =D
Well, if you do not like yoga that much why you keep reading articles about it? I, on the other hand, LOVE it, there is no better exercise or relaxation!
Yoga classes vary by instuctor. Some can be very boring however some are physically challenging, relaxing, and make you break a sweat.I took a class while I was in school as an elective. I love it but, I can afford the classes. I cannot find a dvd that I enjoy.
Great tips..
8th reason - because you could actually do a lot of the positions at work as well. For us - working mothers who barely have time to squeeze in for the gym, can actually have 10-15 minute workouts from the roundabouts of our cubicle or office for the more fortunate :)
Albinora..
Im someone who’s always in front of my laptop and yoga has helped me to have that peace of mind. Whenever I do youga, I feel like Im being recharged and can do other activities like going out and doing other chores. =)
Yoga helps me when Im stressed out with work.