Does Yoga Help With Relaxation?
The Basics of Yoga Some people swear that yoga is the answer to many ills and, in some instances, science agrees. This ancient form of relaxation and healing comes in many shapes and sizes, with one sure to fit your lifestyle. By Linda Foster, MA
When dealing with stress, physical illness, and the emotional issues of everyday life, you can be left frustrated and sapped of energy. Yoga may be one way to find relief. Yoga can be helpful for a range of physical conditions including back pain, low energy levels, arthritis, and even multiple sclerosis, and it can help you become more limber and simply feel better. Yoga is also beneficial for emotional issues, including mood swings, depression, and anxiety. Yoga: Benefits for Mind, Body, and Soul According to Rich Goldstein, CEO of YogaSolve in Austin, Texas, “Yoga tends to work on the core systems that regulate our physical and emotional well-being, and a regular practice of yoga improves health and provides an enhanced feeling of satisfaction for many individuals. Many of the issues we face as a culture regarding our long-term health are related to stress and aging, and yoga is a most powerful method for addressing these concerns.” “I personally came to yoga because of scoliosis [an abnormal curvature of the spine] and found it so helpful that I have been practicing yoga for 30 years and teaching it for 15,” says Robin Gueth, owner and teacher at the Stress Management Center of Marin in San Francisco. “Yoga is great for dealing with all of life’s physical and mental aches and pains.” According to some published research, yoga lowers one’s pulse, blood pressure, and breathing rate; it also improves posture, flexibility, balance, energy levels, strength, concentration, memory, and much more. Yoga has been linked with decreased pain and improved blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Other benefits are often seen as well: One Australian study showed that yoga benefitted those with moderate to severe asthma, both in how well their airways responded to their medication and in their mood. The Annals of Internal Medicine recently reported that, compared to regular exercise and patient education, yoga was superior in relieving lower back pain. A recent Harvard Mental Health Letter noted that yoga can also be beneficial for depression, anxiety, and stress. And yet another Harvard article noted that yoga not only benefits the mind, but also the body, leading to improved posture, stronger bone density, and improved measures of heart health. Yoga: Many Practices to Choose From Gueth says there are many styles of yoga to choose from. Each of these is a form of the physical practice of Hatha yoga. * Viniyoga. This is a gentler type of therapeutic yoga, with a focus on carefully executed poses timed with breathing. Incorporating meditation and chanting, it is tailored to the individual. “A number of styles of hot yoga are presently being taught in America,” says Goldstein. “In the case of hot yoga, the movement and posture tends to be more aerobic, more energetic, and is well-suited to the Western mindset. Unfortunately, when taught by new, less experienced instructors, hot yoga students tend to experience a higher level of injuries as a result of the intensity of the practice without appropriate guidance.” How did the ancient practice of yoga get translated into so many different styles? “Sri Krishnamacharya was the teacher in India who inspired his students to take yoga to America,” Gueth explains. “I asked [his son] T.K.V. Desikachar how it could be that there were so many seemingly conflicting styles of yoga that all claimed to come from his father. He said that his father felt there were different types of yoga suitable for different times of life. When you are young, a vigorous practice is appropriate. As you get older, your practice becomes steadier or less vigorous. When you are quite old, your practice may only consist of yoga meditation, as a way to prepare to leave this life. Each type of yoga has its place during the course of one’s lifetime.” The point is to choose a yoga practice that balances your life. If life is hectic and you have insomnia, a quieter practice will help you, like viniyoga. According to Gueth, “If you are young and needing to focus your energies, ashtanga or a hot yoga could be the perfect choice. Try them all and find the one that makes you feel your physical and mental best." This article is from CarePages. This is a website that is free and easy to create. Through it, you can receive emotional support with loved ones and friends during a health challenge. Care Pages
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