What is yoga and what are its benefits? You probably know at
least one person that regularly practices yoga, or maybe you’ve been dying to
try it but don’t know much about how it works. Yoga is a combination of
movement (asana), breathing (pranayama), and meditation. These three things
combined aim to align the body and mind. Yoga has a long history, but it came
to the United States in the late 1800s and was not widely known until the
1960s. Once its benefits were recognized, its popularity rose.
There are many benefits of a regular yoga practice. Some of
these include: increased vitality and energy, release of muscle tightness,
improved posture, better circulation, and even help with digestion. Mentally,
yoga allows you to cope more effectively with stress and bring more balance,
awareness, and joy into your life. Whenever you have a tough day and leaving
the house is the last thing you want to do, yoga is actually probably the best
thing for you to do. It is a lovely place to go relax and release.
After your first
class, you will have improved brain function, lower stress levels, and
increased flexibility.
After a few months,
your sense of balance will improve; chronic back and neck pain should be
reduced, or gone altogether. You might even have a greater lung capacity and
lower blood pressure. After years of
consistent practice, your bones will be stronger and you will have a lower risk
of heart disease.
Now that you have seen all of these benefits, why wouldn’t
you give yoga a try? Come join us in one of our many classes here at The Open
Mind Center!
