| I started writing this article to sum up the health | | | | pumping iron in front of the mirror, but we've all seen |
| benefits of yoga, but soon realized that the list of | | | | what yoga has done for Madonna's arms. If us |
| benefits would be a million miles long. I wouldn't be able | | | | common folk can see a quarter of that definition we'd |
| to do the subject justice in a short article that sums up | | | | probably all be satisfied. Many yoga poses require that |
| the general benefits of yoga. In fact, the minute I | | | | you support your own weight during or through one |
| started researching the topic and saw the massive | | | | pose to the next. At first even downward facing dog |
| amount of positive effects on your body and mind that | | | | will make your shoulders burn. Unlike traditional weight |
| yoga can make, it made me want to run out to class | | | | training, yoga uses your own body as resistance and |
| right away even just to have that moment of elation | | | | your muscles begin to learn how to precisely control |
| just as I leave the yoga studio with my body | | | | your movements. Your muscles become long, lean and |
| exhausted and my mind at ease. | | | | toned - and who doesn't want that, right?! |
| Lets start with the most obvious. Flexibility. Of course | | | | Another physical benefit you'll achieve in yoga is that |
| this is going to improve with the practice of yoga. Your | | | | you'll begin to really breathe. |
| tight muscles will hold you back at first and even | | | | When the Breath wanders, the mind is unsteady, but |
| protest most of the way through your first few | | | | when the Breath is still, so is the mind still." - Hatha |
| classes, but soon you'll start to feel them give in and | | | | Yoga Pradipika |
| work with you. You'll be able to feel your deep | | | | It's not often that we think of our breathing in everyday |
| breathing allow your muscles to relax further and | | | | life. In yoga class, you're trained to breath fully, deeply |
| further into the stretch. Over time you won't believe | | | | and consciously. The idea is that yoga breathing |
| what your muscles are capable of and you'll be | | | | exercises gets more oxygen to your blood and to |
| craving getting deeper into each pose than in your | | | | your brain. You'll use more of your lungs than you do |
| previous practice. | | | | normally and feel the difference between normal |
| Your strength will also be challenged in the practice of | | | | breath and fully yoga breathing exercises. |
| yoga. You won't turn into the muscle man you see | | | | |