Yoga, Not Just Flexibility
Everyday we encounter advertisements about fitness products to help us lose weight and tone our abs and body, but hearing about yoga, an exercise with all the benefits and much more- is rare.
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.
People think that the single biggest advantage of yoga is flexibility. If you’ve ever seen a yoga class or checked out a yoga clothing site, you will be amazed by all the twisting and folding that a yoga practitioner can do. Practicing yoga brings a greater range of motion, particularly to your hamstrings, back, shoulders and hips.
The yoga poses, some of which may be held for prolonged periods, also help you build strength and muscle tone. You will also have improved balance as you learn to achieve poses.
Types of pain can be managed with the increased flexibility and strength. Imagine how good it would feel when you stretch after a long drive. Yoga can also help with back pains, shoulder pain and even carpal tunnel pain aside from it’s relaxing benefits.
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.
You may need help beginning yoga, but that is as easy as enrolling in a class, buying a video, or even tuning in a television program. Getting yourself a yoga mat or if you have a carpeted area and some loose fitting clothes are also advisable. Listen to your body, whether doing yoga in a class or by yourself. When attempting to do a pose and you feel pain, try doing a modified version or do not attempt until you feel that you are in a level where you can physically do so. If you continue to do yoga, the poses will become easier and you might find that yoga is one of the best “you” times you can have.
Visit the online guide to St. Louis and enjoy Yoga St Louis.
categories: Exercise,Yoga