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Benefits Of Yoga, From Youth To Elderly

I'd heard about the benefits of yoga now and again when I was single. It sounded interesting, and the poses looked beautiful (if not impossible); however, I didn't have the time to learn something new and didn't want to spend the money on classes.

Besides, I was walking every day and doing some stretching and a little weightlifting now and again. I figured I was doing a pretty good job staying in shape.

When I became pregnant, my midwife recommended taking a prenatal yoga class. I decided to compromise, and bought a prenatal yoga DVD (the Prenatal Yoga DVD with Shiva Rea) instead.

And fell in love.

My "yoga time" was something I came to look forward to every day. The gentle stretches were akin to a massage, and the deep breathing helped me feel in control of an otherwise physically uncomfortable body.

The benefits of yoga on a pregnant woman's body and mind go even further. During my first trimester, it was one of a few things I could do that would help me forget my constant nausea, if only for a few moments at a time.

Between the stretches and the breathing, following the DVD helped me relax. I'm what they call a Type A personality, always going and having no idea what to do if I stop. Since some of the benefits of yoga for anybody who takes it up is lowering blood pressure and heart rate, it's especially great for pregnant women, who should ideally spend nine months in a state of rest.

The yoga poses also helped me discover muscles in my body that I never even knew existed. Yes, the poses were difficult at first, and I was sore for the first couple of days. But as time went on, I could sense my entire body getting stronger and more ready for childbirth.

Yoga for everyone

The benefits of yoga are not limited to any specific condition or age group. Whoever you are, whatever age practicing yoga can help you in the following ways.

Increases your flexibility.
Works all your muscle groups (assuming you go through a range of different poses).
Massages all your organs (again, if you practice a range of poses).
Optimizes blood supply throughout your body, helping your body detoxify and get energized.
Improves muscle tone. Without spending a lot of time with weights, your body shapes up nicely.
Gets you breathing deeply. More oxygen to the lungs means more oxygen to the blood, which means more life and fewer toxins.

Yoga also apparently lubricates joints and tendons, as people with arthritis often find pain relief. Similar benefits extend to people with back pain and other conditions where pain as a major symptom.

Another great benefit of yoga is its relatively low cost. Classes will be your largest expense; however, later on all you will need is a decent yoga mat and perhaps a couple of other props, such as yoga blocks.

How to get started with yoga

The best way to learn yoga is through an instructor. However, if that is not feasible for you, the second-best would be to purchase a DVD. Gaiam.com has several yoga DVDs to choose from.

If you are just looking for a few basic poses to practice a few times a week, or you need encouragement that anyone can do it, Yoga for All of Us: A Modified Series of Traditional Poses for Any Age and Ability by Peggy Cappy, is great book for beginners.

May I coach you? If you are looking for a restful way to increase your flexibility, tone your muscles, and perhaps even decrease the risk of developing disease, consider the benefits of yoga, and get started with it today.

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