I believe that every aspect of yoga makes it a great choice for just about everyone! Here are just a few reasons why everyone could/should practice yoga:
- Yoga can be progressed or regressed to match your fitness level and ability. This also means it is suitable for people of all ages
- Yoga can be performed using free weights in a 100 degree room with 20% humidity or it can be practiced using just your body and at ambient temperature
- It increases range of motion, flexibility, cardiovascular health, muscle strength and tone
- Yoga teaches you to control your breathing and calm your mind
- You can make the practice of yoga 'your own', meaning it is your journey to learn about yourself from the inside out
- The relaxation techniques you learn in yoga can be used in the workplace or home
- Yoga teaches you to become consciously aware of your body and the space it occupies
- You will learn to 'open up' areas of your body that are holding tension and stress
- As with other forms of physical activity, yoga promotes longevity, health and wellness
The list could go on and on! If you haven't already, give yoga a try, you won't be disappointed!
Not every gym is like that, but there's always a fair share of one-upsmanship when you mix a bunch of testosterone-filled guys with barbells. That can be an intimidating setting for any novice, and frankly, it's not for everyone.
But yoga is.
The ancient method of exercise-which is based on the principles of stretching, breathing, and being in tune to all of the ways your body can move-has become popular in gyms and homes because of the major health benefits you can derive from it.
Perhaps the best part about yoga is that it's missing the machismo factor. ("Yeah, baby, gimme a deep downward dog! Deeper! 10 more seconds! C'mon, you wimp!"). The gurus joke that really loose people are losers if they think that's their most important achievement. Yoga is all about how much you can do-knowing your body and its limits.
Though it can offer so many benefits, I see yoga has having three major advantages in terms of longevity:
- Yoga increases your flexibility. Your muscles aren't static tissues. They move, they expand, they contract. The more flexible they are, the better range of motion you have and the less stress you'll have on your joints doing normal activities.
- Yoga increases your strength. No, in yoga, you're not holding any weights, and, yes, yoga looks more tranquil than a Pacific Ocean sunset. But some of these poses are as taxing as they are relaxing. They force your muscles to hold your body weight, which counts as resistance training-and that gives you the additional benefit of building bone density.
- Yoga helps you focus on your breathing. There's certainly a meditative component to holding one position for a minute or longer, and that helps you concentrate on proper breathing and posture-both of which not only have spiritual effects, but physical effects as well.
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YOU: The Owner's Manual, Updated and Expanded Edition: An Insider's Guide to the Body that Will Make You Healthier and Younger
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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.