by ib

Created on: November 09, 2009   Last Updated: December 23, 2009

What yoga can do for you - 10 benefits and reasons to give yoga a go.

One of the most popular movements in the fitness world today is yoga. But why is this so? Only a few years ago yoga and yoga products were stereotyped as the exercise associated with vegan environmentalists. However, as the fitness style became associated with celebrities sporting fabulously toned physiques including the famous Geri Halliwell "It's raining men" music video-clip. A string of other swear-by stars such as Madonna, The Los Angeles Lakers, the Victoria Secret models including Heidi Klum and Miranda Kerr, and even boxer Evander Holyfield are yoga-fitness fanatics. So what is the fuss all about? Here are 10 reasons why yoga and yoga products are fantastic for all - young, old, male and female and the benefits doing yoga brings to a balanced human lifestyle.

1. Yoga is fantastic for stress relief. This is the most important benefit of the exercise. No-one ever leaves a yoga class wound up. Through the slow pace, breathing regulation and meditation associated with calming music and decreased lighting, yoga has been shown to increase concentration, improve memory and self-acceptance while decreasing anxiety, hostility and depression with an all-over sense of relaxation and mood improvement.

2. Yoga poses increase flexibility all over the body. There is a position to stretch every muscle to increase blood flow and oxygen to often neglected muscles used in everyday activity such as the back, hamstrings, shoulders and hips. By stretching these areas more motion with less associated pain is achieved while increasing range in all muscles.

3. Muscles become toned more effectively from doing yoga because different ligaments and tendons of the body work in harmony, using poses that require the body to support its own weight in different ways. This increases body strength, cardiovascular and respiratory efficiency and improves sleeping patterns, resulting in normalised weight and increased energy levels leaning muscle.

4. Posture improves as a result of yoga as well. As a product of body strengthening and flexibility, many individuals find that yoga improves their over-all body awareness and balance with better hand-eye coordination and reaction times.

5. Because yoga is a low-impact exercise, it can be done by anyone of any age or fitness level, with many elderly people using yoga as a way to decrease stress and improve mobility. It is also a great introductory way to begin an exercise routine

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>