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Yoga is no longer the doman of granola-eating vegetarian New Age hippies. Once scorned because of its mystical conotations and zen-like chanting, yoga is now recognized as one of the best exercises for the body. True, advanced practitioners can balance on thier hands while they are twisted like a pretzel, but most yoga practice is far more basic.

Studies show that yoga can have great benefits, including flexibility, stress and pain relief, insomnia relief, and more. The gentle, flowing movements help to increase flexibility which prepares the body for other types of exercise. Increased flexibility can help prevent injuries while playing sports as well as doing ordinary household chores. Over time, yoga may also help lower blood pressure due to the decreased stress.

All exercise can help decrease stress, but yoga is especially relaxing. Often practiced in a dimly lit room with soft music and candles, the environment provides a welcome respite from our overly loud, stimulating world. No cell phones, no beepers, just tranquil movements paired with deep breathing. The breathing exercises increase lung capacity and improve oxygen exchange. Many of us breath shallowly, often from sitting slumped over in a chair for hours a day. Our bodies are hungry for deep, cleansing breaths.

With increased flexibility and a decrease in stress comes another pleasant side effect-pain relief. Many sufferers of arthritis, bad backs, and other chronic pain conditions find a decrease in pain to the point that less pain medication may be needed. The pain is often caused by inactivity and lack of stretching. The body is meant to be used, not just sit idle, and yoga utilizes many movements that our sedentary lifestyles have rendered almost extinct. Why bend and twist to vacumn when we can get one of the new smart robotic vacumns that zooms around and does the work for it while we watch? Many yoga postures improve core strength, which is our abdominal tone. Improving abdominal tone helps alleviate back pain, as the core can be thought of as a girdle around our midsection.

Yoga doesn't require an expensive outlay of cash. For beginners or those with little or no exercise training, it's best to take a beginner class so that the instructor can offer tips on good form and breathing. Most gyms and fitness centers offer yoga, and it is often included in the monthly membership fee. Some churches with fitness centers also offer yoga instruction, usually taught by a member. There is no need to feel intimidated if it's your first time. You will see students in all shapes and sizes, including men. Many will be beginners and some will be more experienced. You can learn from watching others in a group class.

If you'd rather practice in private, there are many DVDs and books on the subject. My favorite source for all fitness DVDs is Collage Video (www.collagevideo.com. Prices are reasonable, and you can search for dvds by level (beginner, intermediate, advanced), length of time, and instructor. Reviews and video clips let you make sure you are ordering the best choice for your goals and fitness levels.

While you can buy trendy, expensive yoga clothing online and in sporting good stores, all you really need is comfortable clothing that allows you to bend, sit, and stretch. Shorts, t shirts, or leotards fill the bill nicely. After a few sessions, you just may decide that yoga is something you can't live without.

Learn more about this author, Roma Lightsey.
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