| #1: Yoga Can Help Lengthen Your Spine |
| Poor posture is far more common than we might think. Many of us spend long hours sitting behind a desk, holding babies, or simply living a sedentary lifestyle. |
| The constant … |
| • Slouching |
| • Arching of the low back |
| • Locked or bent knees; and |
| • Forward head tilt |
| … can compress muscles around your spine, leaving it in unnatural positions. Not only is this uncomfortable, but it can lead to bigger problems. |
| Yoga is a fun and natural way to help lengthen your spine and can help bring your bones into proper alignment. |
| #2: Yoga Can Help Decrease Stress Levels |
| Studies have shown that regularly practicing yoga two to three times per week for three months can reduce stress. How does this work? |
| The levels of your stress hormones, adrenaline, and cortisol, are reduced through yoga, as well as c-reactive proteins in your blood that contribute to inflammation. |
| Conversely, yoga increases your “happiness hormones” — serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine — as well as GABA-neurotransmitters that tell your brain and body to relax. |
| #3: Yoga Can Help Improve Flexibility |
| Yoga is a great physical exercise because it promotes strengthening your mind and body to help them move better. Think about it: |
| With … |
| • Better joint mobility |
| • Stronger muscles |
| • Improved balance; and |
| • Improved mobility |
| … the likelihood of your flexibility increasing is higher. |
| #4: Yoga Can Help Improve Balance |
| Having good balance is more important than you might think. Not only does having good balance help to maintain the body’s correct position, but it also helps you to: |
| • Walk without staggering your steps |
| • Stand up without falling |
| • Climb stairs without tripping; and |
| • Bend over without falling |
| If you’re struggling with any of these issues, practicing yoga to help strengthen your core is a great way to help. |
| #5: Yoga Can Help People Deal with Pain |
| When practiced correctly, yoga can help to reduce pain. How? |
| One Doctor of Philosophy has discovered through research there are simple ways to help people with both chronic and acute pain beyond pharmaceuticals. Instead, with mind-body practices — yoga and meditation — pain perception may be reduced because an increase in gray matter can help your brain regulate its response to pain. |
| #6: Yoga Can Help Build Lean Muscle |
| Yoga can sometimes be more difficult than many people tend to think. |
| Working through … |
| • Balance |
| • Mobility |
| • Core strength; and |
| • Flexibility |
| … takes both mental and physical work. |
| But while your body is working hard through yoga sessions, it’s: |
| • Building strength |
| • Toning; and |
| • Building lean muscle. |
| #7: Yoga Can Help Improve Joint Support |
| Yoga can help improve joint support in a few different ways: |
| 1. Yoga helps to improve your range of motion, which is helpful for you to complete simple daily tasks. |
| 2. Weak joints could be due to weakness in the muscles surrounding them, so yoga helps to strengthen muscles that support your joints. |
| 3. When joint cartilage is immobilized, it can become unhealthy and weak. Yoga can help to keep cartilage moving, healthy, and strong. |
Anna Godfrey 