| The practice of yoga has been around for over | | | | important as we age. Standing poses, especially if |
| 5,000 years. Millions of Americans are currently | | | | they are held for a good length of time, will really |
| practicing yoga and experiencing a multitude of health | | | | strengthen the leg muscles. Nearly all yoga poses will |
| benefits from it. Yoga is anything but a trend; it is far | | | | strengthen the abdominal and back muscles. |
| and away one of the best exercise programs anyone | | | | Because of increased flexibility and muscle strength, |
| can subscribe to. | | | | our posture improves as well. Muscles are more able |
| Firstly, yoga improves flexibility. When some people | | | | to adjust to correct posture positions, which is going |
| think of yoga, they think they are too old, too fat, | | | | to alleviate headaches, muscle tension, back pain, and |
| or not flexible enough to be any good at it. The truth | | | | increased body awareness. Yoga teaches you to be |
| is, anyone can improve their flexibility! Yoga is made | | | | aware of your body positions at all times, so |
| up of moves called asanas, or poses. These asanas | | | | hunching or slouching will usually be self-corrected |
| are held for a period of time, which gently stretches | | | | immediately by the experienced yoga student. |
| and loosens the muscles, releasing the lactic acid build | | | | Practicing yoga involves deep, regular breathing. This |
| up. Yoga asanas also increase the range of motion in | | | | improves lung capacity and teaches self-relaxation |
| the joints, and is also thought to help lubricate the | | | | techniques. The deep breathing teaches you to be |
| joints as well. Yoga even stretches the fascia which | | | | mindful of the breath and relaxes the mind. Your |
| is the first layer underneath your skin! | | | | overall mood therefore improves. Yoga also improves |
| Some forms of yoga, like power yoga, will really | | | | heart health by improving circulation, reducing |
| increase your strength and muscle tone, but even | | | | cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, and lowering the |
| less aggressive forms of yoga will definitely give your | | | | heart rate. Yoga has also recently been used in |
| muscle strength some benefits. Many of the poses, | | | | therapies to ease such problems as asthma, back |
| such as downward dog, upward dog, and plank, will | | | | pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, CFS, insomnia, and multiple |
| improve upper body strength, which is extremely | | | | sclerosis. |