We’ve all heard how doing yoga is one of the best practices to adopt when trying to balance your weight, lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, and also to reduce stress.
But we’ve also all wondered exactly HOW these 60 minute sessions of bends and twists can promise so much?
Here’s the key to the health benefits of yoga poses:
Like traditional exercize (running, walking, playing group sports etc), yoga can get your heart rate up and tone and strengthen your muscles. But the special qualities that yoga alone offers is the attention it gives to our internal organs. Here’s a quick fact about the major types of yoga postures:
All forward bending poses will help to massage the stomach, pancreas and intestines, bringing new blood to these organs and therefore helping them to work better.
All twisting poses massage and compress the different sections of the colon, helping to manually move food along it’s route from the stomach and onwards.
Also, all “chin to chest” simple poses will massage the thyroid and parathyroid glands which are responsible for our body’s ability to properly absorb calcium in addition to keeping our sleep and metabolism regular.
Like many things in life, it is the simple stuff that is often offering the most complex benefits. If you’re new to yoga, research the variety of DVD’s, classes in your neighborhood and of course, local practitioners that can help you learn more.
Thank you for your post! Often people percieve yoga as flexibility routine while it is so much more for the physical as well as spiritual body.
I would like to add that various poses also work on the joints between vertebrates and activate neuro-connections between the central nervous system and specific organs therefore promoting communication among body systems. In acupuncture we activate that connection with the use of needles, and in yoga and some forms of Qigong we can learn and incorporate specific poses to work on specific part of our spine as a daily practice.
If I’m a starter, what kind of yoga should I do first ?
There are many types of yoga here in the states. As a beginner, find a beginner or open level hatha class near you to get your feet grounded. This will guide you through classical poses and movements. Then you can see if you’d like to try a more vigorous style like Vinyasa or something more gentle like Yin Yoga or Restorative. Best of luck and let me know if you have any further questions.
Thank You for your article. Yoga exercises are the best way to free your mind and concentrate deeply. After experiencing a stressful situation, your mind, body and spirit is stressed and tired.