Benefits of Yoga
26. Aug, 2009 
4 Comments
Yoga…It’s stretching, and bending, and contorting the body in ways it was never meant to move, right? Not exactly. I think there are huge benefits to yoga even if you practice only one time per week. While some yoga positions are basic and other yoga positions are more advanced there is a fundamental principal that “you work within the comfort and limits of your body”.
I started practicing a little less than a year ago while in the process of training for a marathon. I have, however, continued to stick with regular yoga practice because of the benefits I have received. I would encourage other individuals to give it a try and see if you recognize some of the same benefits I have experienced.
Increased Flexibility – It’s no secret that our lifestyle of sitting causes poor posture and for myself, tight, weak hamstring muscles (back of your legs). Also, my long distance running tends place more work on the quadriceps muscle group (front of legs). These two senarios create a muscle imbalance. Regular yoga tends to counter some of the effect by practicing good posture and moving through positions which stretch and strengthen the hamstrings. The end result is better muscle balance, increased flexibility, and decreased risk of injury.
Relaxation and Stress Relief – Part of every yoga practice is directing your focus inward away from the outside world and the typical stresses of daily life. Focusing only on your breathing and movements for a period of time may seem selfish to some, but it’s not. I typically find that I leave each yoga class with a great sense of peace and clarity in my own thoughts and this makes me ready to give again to the outside world.
A Great Workout – There are over 600 muscles in the human body and while some of these muscles are prime movers many of them are small stabalizing muscles. Because we spend so much time sitting or we have given up daily chores due to automation many of these muscles get less than normal use. Try one yoga class and you soon realize how you many small muscles you work in keeping your balance and engaging your core.
I have seen a lot of these benefits with only one class per week, and yoga is a lifetime activity meaning that it is something I can continue to learn and practice. Yoga is also a cost effective workout solution. Since most classes are typically done in a group environment you don’t pay as much as you would for one-on-one private instruction. However, most instructors do offer private one-on-one sessions if you desire. Typically, yoga classes cost between $10 and $30 per class just depending on the type of package you purchase or the specialty level of the class and instructor.
On top of regular classes I have been looking for a product that I can use to do an additional yoga workout during the evenings without having to drive to the studio. I think I have come across a great product! It’s called Runner’s Yoga. However, don’t let the name fool you because they say it’s not just for runners. Take a look for yourself, but in the mean time I’m going to give it try and report back with a complete review so we can find out if it’s a good solution for me and hopefully for you.
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i practice Yoga purely for the purpose of reducing stress and it really works. Yoga keeps both of my mind and body relax.
I practice Yoga at home mainly for the purpose of having a relax mind and body. Stress is really high on our workplace and yoga helps me relax.
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I started taking Yoga lessons last month and i am amazed of how it can take away the stress of my mind and body.
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Many yoga classes are out there, and you may be turned off if you pick one that does not suit your personality and state of physical fitness. For most beginners, a hatha or vinyasa class will be most appropriate, depending on whether you want a slow or fast-paced class. These are basic styles, and you can always try something fancier later.