Once considered a mystical Indian spiritual practice by some Westerners, yoga's popularity has grown due to its purported physical and mental health benefits. Many people practice yoga to relieve stress, anxiety or depression and to improve flexibility and strength. Some studies suggest yoga boosts mood, fights stress and lowers blood pressure. Nevertheless, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggests researchers don't completely understand yoga's effect on the human body.
Like ice cream, yoga comes in many flavors. Common variations include Hatha, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Kundalini and Bikram. Each type emphasizes certain elements like spirituality, athleticism, flexibility and breath work more than others. Yoga includes various poses and moving sequences. Yoga has gained a following: the 2007 National Health Interview Survey found that 6 percent of adults practiced yoga for health reasons.
Mental Benefits
Yoga may relieve mental health disorders including insomnia, anxiety and depression. Many practitioners, along with health authorities like the Mayo Clinic, claim that yoga leads to relaxation, positive mood alterations and less stress. Yoga impacts the mind-body connection and may improve your sense of well-being through mindfulness. Some forms of yoga focus on breath control, which can also relieve tension, among other benefits.
Physical Benefits
Yoga routines vary from light, gentle stretches to demanding "power" moves. Yoga may improve balance, posture, flexibility and coordination. In addition, yoga can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, boost lung capacity and release muscle tension. By becoming more active, yoga may help you lose weight and prevent injuries.
Getting Started
Many gyms, community centers and yoga studios offer yoga classes for every experience level. Some classes offer specialized, tailored programs like prenatal yoga or yoga for seniors. Learning yoga with an instructor or classmates can acclimate you to yoga postures. If you're uncomfortable in a class, many companies produce yoga DVDs and illustrated how-to books.
Precautions
Yoga is generally considered safe for most people. Consult your health care provider to make sure you can practice yoga, especially if you have spine, blood pressure, vision, circulatory or osteoporosis problems. Pregnant women may need to be more cautious when practicing yoga. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggests you shouldn't use yoga as a substitute for traditional medical care or to postpone treatment.
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