When many folks think of yoga, they think of someone sitting cross-legged meditating or contorted upside down and doing handstands.
While the practice of yoga does involve some interesting positions, the form is more about moving the body and mind back to a sense of wellness and balance versus trying to look like participant on an acrobat gymnastics team.
In a nutshell, yoga is a series of lessons and practices that are designed to improve internal core strength and put the body and mind back into a state of balance. Further, there isn’t just one yoga per se.
There are many dozens of yoga types and entire schools of practice around different trends or styles. However, they have commonalities which include meditation, learning how to breath in a controlled exercise, body postures for flexibility and strength-building, and tolerance-building.
Physical Benefits
Clearly, one of the almost immediate benefits of yoga is increased flexibility, which really matters the older a person gets. Because of the postures involved, a person naturally begins to stretch more and become more limber.
Secondly, many of the postures increased core body strength in the back and abdomen which also improves one’s health. Both of these practices also help the body exercise, even if slowly, which then improves cardiovascular performance when combined with the breathing exercises.
By the time one is done, the workout then increases the need for rest which triggers deep sleep and better rest at night.
Mental Benefits
Many practitioners of yoga have noted that the exercises and breathing routines are key in helping achieve a better mental balance.
These practices work effectively in reducing mental stress, allowing clarity of thinking, and control anxiety and worry with a sense of inner focus. In a related manner, practitioners also note the same also produces the ability to concentrate better and become more self-aware of one’s personal health and needs when they are signaled.
That in turn addresses deficiency faster and the cycle repeats itself with better thinking and less distraction.
So Get Started
Anyone can start yoga at any time. There is no long-term ramp up requiring years of practice to become accomplished.
There is yoga for those who want to work under extreme conditions, like hot room temperature tolerance practices, and then yoga for those who have no idea and just want to start from ground zero.
Every yoga style has a beginning level that fits multiple fitness conditions. With so many different ways to get started, the only real challenge is getting one’s self to motivate and take the first step. Give it a try, and you’ll be impressed how much yoga can help your health overall.
