EXPERT ADVICE YOGA
Benefits of Yoga For All Ages
Karen Murphy Studio Owner, Instructor Moksha, Moksha Level 2, Yin, Prenatal Yoga, Barre
If you practice yoga regularly, you've probably noticed some yoga benefits—maybe you're sleeping better or getting fewer colds or just feeling more relaxed and at ease. But if you've ever tried telling a newbie about the benefits of yoga or try to convince them to join you in a class,you might find that explanations like "It increases the flow of energy" or "It reallt grounds you" falls on incertain or skeptical ears. Here is a list of the benefits of yoga that both the newbie and the experienced will understand easily. Improved flexibility is one of the first and most obvious benefits of yoga. During your first class, you probably won't be able to touch your toes, never mind do a back-bend. But if you stick with it, you'll notice gradual changes, and eventually, seemingly impossible poses will become possible. You may also notice that aches and pains start to disappear. That's no coincidence. Protects your joints. Each time you practice yoga, you take your jopints through their full range of motion. This can help prevent degenerative arthritis by improving joint function and maintaining joint flexibility. Strong muscles do more than look good. They also protect us from conditions like arthritis and back pain, and help prevent falls in elderly people. And when you build strength through
yoga, you balance it with improved flexibility.
Better posture: Your head is big, round, and heavy. When it's balanced directly over an erect spine, it takes much less work for your neck and back muscles to support it. Prevents cartilage and joint breakdown. Each time you practice yoga, you take your joints through their full range of motion. This can help prevent degenerative arthritis or mitigate disability by "squeezing and soaking" areas of cartilage that normally aren't used. Protects your spine . Spinal disks—the shock absorbers between the vertebrae that can herniate and compress nerves—crave movement. That's the only way they get their nutrients. If you've got a well-balanced asana practice with plenty of back-bends, forward bends, and twists, you'll help keep your disks supple. Bone health: It's well documented that weight- bearing exercise strengthens bones and helps ward off osteoporosis. Many postures in yoga require that you lift your own weight. Boosts immunity. When you contract and stretch muscles, move organs around, and come in and out of yoga postures, you increase the drainage of lymph (a viscous fluid rich in immune cells). This helps the lymphatic system fight infection and dispose of the toxic waste products of cellular functioning.
Moksha Yoga Charlottetown 4 Prince Street, Charlottetown 902.894.9642 charlottetown.mokshayoga.ca
If you practice yoga regularly, you've probably noticed some yoga benefits—maybe you're sleeping better or getting fewer colds or just feeling more relaxed and at ease.
Summer 2017 pei-living.ca
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