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! THE SUPER BENEFITS OF YOGA
Our Director of Marketing & Intake Earns Her MBA! CONGRATULATIONS, NATALIE!
For the past two years, Natalie Hightower, Marc Whitehead & Associates’ Director of Marketing & Intake, tirelessly helped our firm, gave birth to her second child, helped raise two small children, and went back to school! This spring, Natalie graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign with her Master of
Business Administration. She has already incorporated what she learned into our firm, helping us improve our internal processes and better target the clients who need us the most. “I couldn’t have done it without my husband,” Natalie says. “We have a 4-year-old and an 18-month-old, so having to work late on papers and going to class at night when it’s their bedtime — I couldn’t have done it without him.” Through it all, our team has been honored to support Natalie in her educational endeavors. We could not be more proud of all she has accomplished, and we cannot wait to see how her knowledge and experience continue to help our firm grow. Congratulations, Natalie!
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