Health Benefits of Yoga,
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When I started my practice in yoga I was stiff as a twig. The thought of bending over and touching my toes seemed impossible. Some people are flexible and some are not, I shrugged it’s all part of the aging process at least that’s what I thought. Many of my friends complained of the same or similar problems a little back or knee pain.
During this time I did not exercise or stretch, I believed that exercise would make things worse. After complaining to my doctor during a routine physical he handed me a paper with pictures of stretching exercises. I decided to learn more and joined a yoga class via DVD and online courses (no embarrassment).
Here are all the benefits I learned from practicing yoga:
- Increased flexibility
- Increased muscle strength
- Improved respiration energy and vitality
- I no longer experience knee pain while going up stairs
- Weight reduction
- Balanced metabolism
No longer will I leave the house without stretching or doing yoga. Who knew that strengthening my core, improve back and knee pain. Yoga is relaxing and can increase circulation. Inverted positions such as headstands encourage blood flow to the heart.
After a good nights sleep or a stressful day at work I stretch, then roll out my yoga mat and lay down in corpse pose ( I mean how easy is the corpse pose!) which is one of my favorite poses. With my muscles relaxed and lengthened the stress gets released from my body.
Truth be told I’ve come a long way from being a twig. One day my heels will touch the floor during downward facing dog or advance poses such as navasana or uttpluthih (I can dream). The important thing is that I work at it every day and continue to improve flexibility with no pain.
