Yoga For Flexibility
And Natural Calm
Yoga is a 5,000 year old discipline that can reduce your stress, give you more flexibility and increase your strength. We’re not talking about wrapping your right leg around your neck while standing on your left foot. That’s for contortionists and yoga professionals. You can choose a style designed specifically for your own age(5-105) and ability.
Unlike tennis or golf or mountain biking, you can practice yoga anywhere. You don’t need any special equipment other than a mat and comfortable clothes.
According to Dr. Sandra McClanahan, family physician and yoga practitioner, “Even five minutes of simple stretching can make a difference in your health, Moving muscles slowly will relax and loosen them, allowing better blood and lymph flow to restore the body and renew energy.”
Dr. Mehmet Oz, America’s Doctor, in his article Stress Management 101 writes, “Yoga has been shown (not only) to reduce stress, (but) lower blood pressure and regulate heart rate”. The good news is that you’ll notice these changes and more within just a couple of weeks.
Practicing Yoga can:
• reduce back pain
• strengthen bones and muscles
• provide better sleep
• relieve symptoms of allergy
• improve balance and flexibility
• help with smoking cessation
• slow the aging process
Yoga combines: breathing exercises, stretching exercises, fitness programs, and meditation practice. Your body will feel relaxed yet energized at the same time.
Another beneficial by-product of yoga is community. When you take a class from a certified instructor you’ll practice with a group of like-minded people who share the common goal of improving their health. A yoga class is a great way to meet new friends.
Check your local recreation center, adult education courses or neighborhood papers. With busy lives, more and more people are forming yoga classes to relax, stretch, breathe and slow down.
Keys to a Healthier Lifestyle
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