HOW TO LIVE TO 99 THE SUPER BENEFITS OF YOGA
June 21 is International Yoga Day, which makes it a great time of year to talk about the unique benefits of yoga — the “superfood” of fitness. As a mixture of exercise and mindfulness, yoga is not only challenging but also has myriad health benefits. Many people assume yoga is mainly useful for increasing your flexibility. However, it’s also excellent for further developing your strength, mobility, and balance. These can be key benefits for living a healthier lifestyle, whether you’re an athlete or concerned about aging. Kaitlyn Hochart, a yoga instructor from San Diego, California, writes on Healthline, “During yoga, your body goes through a full range and variety of motion that can counteract aches and pains associated with tension or poor postural habits.” Yoga can help you become more aware of these habits, “[allowing] you to fix these imbalances and improve overall athleticism.” Many forms of exercise are useful against depression and cardiovascular disease, but in yoga’s case, you don’t have to break a sweat to start benefiting from its stress-relieving properties. “The breathing exercises you practice during yoga can help lower your heart rate and shift your nervous system into a more relaxed state. It also promotes better sleep and increased focus,” Hochart writes. Multiple studies agree: Yoga can significantly decrease the secretion of cortisol, the primary stress hormone. In one study, 64 women with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) participated in a 10-week program, performing yoga at least once a week. By the end of the 10 weeks, 52% of participants no longer met the criteria for PTSD at all.
As with starting any new hobby or regular exercise, it may help to set clear goals for yourself. By doing yoga regularly, there are several physical improvements you can look forward to, such as:
• • • • •
Improved range of motion or ease of movement A reduction in pain, discomfort, or other symptoms An increase in physical strength and endurance
Less weight fluctuation
Changes in the way your clothes fit
• Better-quality sleeping habits and increased or stabilized energy levels
One of the best qualities of yoga is that you can be of any age or fitness level. So, pull up a YouTube video, find a soft surface, and give it a try!
PATIENT STORY OF THE MONTH: NANCY
Our wonderful patient Nancy first came to the office to see Dr. Scott following cataract surgery. The 73-year-old told Dr. Scott she wanted to reduce some puffiness below her eyes without losing her natural look. “I don’t really care about face-lifts. I’m happy with the way I look now, but I wanted to enhance my features,” Nancy said, adding that Dr. Scott immediately earned her trust with his attentiveness and understanding. “He’s very good at knowing just exactly what you need. If you ask him questions, he’s wonderful about explaining what to expect.”
Dr. Scott initially performed an eye-lift and laser procedure to reduce the puffiness on Nancy’s lower eyelids following her cataract surgery. The procedure took place at Fair Oaks Hospital as an outpatient procedure and a few hours later, Nancy was back at home for a quick recovery. “It took about a week or so, but my eyes looked beautiful. I have no wrinkles underneath. I’m not puffy. It’s as smooth as can be,” she said. Since then, Nancy has returned to the office for outpatient procedures like facial fillers, which help soften the lines around her face and fill in lost tone that occurs naturally with aging.
“It’s simple. It doesn’t hurt, and it doesn’t take any time to do it,” she says, adding that in addition to loving the results, the procedure is also wonderful because recovery time is minimal and the effects last for a year or longer.
“Everyone notices it but they can’t quite put their finger on it,” Nancy said.
She’s been so happy with her experience that she doesn’t hesitate to tell people that Dr. Scott’s Juvederm filler procedure is behind the change. “I think the world of him and his staff. For eyelid surgery of any kind, he’s the best and I’d highly recommend him.”
2 www.EyePlasticMD.com
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