T he S uper B enefits of Y oga
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:
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Improved range of motion or ease of movement
A reduction in pain, discomfort, or other symptoms
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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!
L elys E merson Meet Our Client Care Coordinator
Current and former clients may recognize Lelys’ name and voice because she’s the one who speaks to our clients first to determine if The Manely Firm can help them and which attorney on staff will be the best fit for their case. She’s been with us for about a year and a half, and her many years of prior customer service experience help her provide excellent service to our clients. Prior to starting with us, Lelys worked in education, the medical industry, and sales, but she says she really feels like she’s found her home in the law field. “I’ve always been intrigued by law because as a little girl, my parents always said I should be an attorney because I was good at arguing,” she says, adding that The Manely Firm is a particularly good fit because the firm’s values line up well with her own. “I’m proud to work for a firm that has a passion for family law and to help people resolve their problems,” Lelys says.
be struggling or dealing with difficult family matters — Lelys says it’s incredibly rewarding to help clients fight for their families. She also draws inspiration from her clients. Continuing to work through COVID-19, Lelys said, showed her “what incredible people we have out there and how strong people are. They still want to get on with their lives and have the courage to file for divorce even in the middle of a pandemic. I’m happy I was there to help them through that.” Lelys grew up in Florida, but she’s called Georgia home for 18 years. She raised her son, Cory, and her daughter, Shelby, here; they are now 24 and 19 years old, respectively. Spending her free time hanging out with family is one of her favorite things to do. She’s also looking forward to a more social summer than last year, enjoying time with friends, going out to dinner, and listening to live music. Lelys’ positive attitude and care for our clients are what make her such an asset to our staff. Thanks for all your hard work, Lelys!
Though her work is not without its challenges — she hears a lot of personal stories from our clients who may
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