Considered by many to be simply a new age exercise fad, yoga has been around a long time and has helped thousands of people to improve their physical and mental fitness. Yoga has come to be embraced by everyone from the elderly to professional athletes. Basketball, baseball and football players now regularly practice yoga for the increased flexibility, improvements in balance and resistance to injuries gained by regular yoga sessions.
The origins of yoga can be traced back over 4,000 years to India. Even today yoga is a daily exercise practice for thousands of Indians. Yoga is also a part of the foundation for several Eastern religions and is considered an integral part of the path to enlightenment in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. However, you don’t have to be looking for spiritual enlightenment to get the benefits of practicing yoga.
In many other parts of the world, yoga is popular because of its many health benefits and its associated use as fitness exercises. One of the pillars of physical fitness is flexibility
Here’s 5 good reasons why you should consider yoga:
1. Yoga is wonderful for treating and preventing back injuries. The gentle stretching and resistance training provided by yoga gives you a strong, toned core.
2. Injury prevention. Yoga also has the power to reduce chances of re-injuring yourself, shorten the time needed to recover from injuries and serve as a regular exercise technique to keep your muscles strong.
3. Stress Control. Yoga is deeply relaxing because the stretching and breathing exercises help you release stress and anxiety. You’ll find coping with stress easier both at home and on the job.
4. Overall Well Being. You’ll look younger because your posture is better and you’re more relaxed. You’ll probably start losing weight, too.
5. Better Sleep. Rediscover the simple pleasures of sleeping with the help of yoga.
One of the great features of yoga is that almost anyone can do it with very minimal training. From the very young to the elderly, there are poses that all levels can do to get started. If you’re just getting started, sign up for a class and look for one that says “low impact” or “beginner”. You’ll soon be moving on to more and more advanced poses. If you have any questions if yoga is right for you, check with your doctor.
Learn more about exercise and health. Visit HealthyLiving411.com where you can find reviews to choose the best exercises for you.