It is at the moment you realize that you are doing this not only for your body, but for your mind and Spirit as well that you will find the true benefits of yoga. I confess to having a problem with yoga and pilates becoming increasingly known as cousins of sorts. I practice both, and there are similarities to be sure, as far as the body and mind are concerned, but the Spirit has nothing to do with pilates.

Yoga can be practiced as an exercise alone, certainly. The benefits to the body, inside and out are quite measurable. Yoga increases the circulation of oxygenated blood, massages the organs, strengthens and lengthens the muscles, among other things. Yoga is an accumulative practice, which is to say that small physical benefit will be observed at first, if any, but with regular practice, the benefits increase and build upon themselves, and physical change can be more readily felt and seen. Yoga strengthens the muscles in an equally effective, yet less straining way than any sort of exercise which involves repetitions. For example, chair pose builds muscle in the quads, hamstrings, abdominal, and buttocks the same way a squat would, but because the posture is held for a length of time as opposed to the up and down movement of squats, the strain on the knees is substantially reduced.

To expand on the physical benefits of yoga, we could discuss the accessibility available to practitioners of all shapes, sizes, age and gender. Being able to contort your body into a pretzel is not a prerequisite, nor is it a goal. There are modifications available for all yoga postures which make the pose more attainable or challenging as needed. The internal benefits remain the same, as long as the posture is being executed correctly. What is correctly? However it feels good to you. The body should feel comfortable, yet challenged.

In regards to the mental and emotional benefits of yoga, well, let's just say they are numerous. Whether or not you wish to accept the spiritual aspect of yoga is up to you, but there is science in that spirituality. We all "hold" stress the same ways, in the same areas. There have been times when I have felt simply exhausted after a day at work, both physically, mentally, and emotionally, as I am sure anyone who has had difficulty relating to co-workers or employers can agree with. Yes, there have been times when all I want to do is park it on the couch and channel surf. However, I roll out my yoga mat, difficult as it may seem, because my

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about The benefits of yoga?
We want to hear your view. Write now!