- Increased Balance and flexibility
- Increased Muscle Strength and tone
- Improved Posture
- Weight Reduction
- Stress Management
Yoga is an exercise where everyone can participate, rather you are young or old, a couch potato or an athlete, age and fitness level does not matter. If something hurts stop, there are modification for yoga poses.
The purpose of yoga is to build strength awareness and harmony in both the mind and body. Breathing excercises along with meditation while assuming poses that stretch and flex various muscles of your body. The position above is downward facing dog or Adho Muukha Shvanasana which strengthens your arms, legs, shoulders, hamstring, shoulder, calf muscles and arches the foot.
Improve your posture. Poor posture can lead to neck and back muscle strain and pain. If you slump while sitting in a chair or sit for long hours at work, your back may compensate by straightening areas of your spine that should be curved. This can cause neck and lower back pain.
Increased activity is the first step in any weight loss program. Weight bearing poses improve muscle tone so that you can burn more calories, a strong core can help to prevent falls while increasing strength and flexibility.
Stress Reduction
Have you ever felt that you had a million things on your mind. Trying to balance work life and family responsibilities can be over whelming. Many people practice yoga for its ability to increase relaxation, improve sleep and decrease stress. Meditation is a form of yoga, allow the many thoughts of the day to cease so that you can sleep at night and awake refreshed.
Here are a few beginner poses to try. Corpse pose, lie down on the floor, hands to your side in Savasana or sit down on the floor, legs crossed in easy pose, bend slightly forward in Sukhasana.
Give yoga a try, it can improve your mind body and spirit. As always consult your physician before starting any exercise program
