Every year on the seventh of April, the World Health Organization (WHO)
celebrates World Health Day. Activities and resources related to a
different annual theme, as well as general health promotion, continue
for some time beyond the seventh. For further information on this year's
theme and other health topics, visit World Health Organization.
This annual focus on health is a good reminder for all of us to
re-examine our own fitness, and the habits - both good and bad - that
impact it. Injecting some regular exercise into your life is a great way
to improve your general health, and yoga is a comprehensive, low-impact
form of exercise that is versatile enough to slip into everyone's
routine. At its core, yoga is about the marriage of breathing and
stretching. Anyone can do it, anywhere, at almost any time. Once you've
learned the basics of yoga, poses and stretches can be adapted to any
situation and any body type. From youth to seniors, from the office
chair to the yoga studio, yoga can enhance your daily health in many ways.
As mentioned, yoga focuses heavily on the breath and its integration
into a physical workout. Controlled, deep breathing is used to move the
body from pose to pose or to regulate or deepen a stretch. This rhythmic
breathing is the key to one of yoga's primary benefits: stress relief.
The experience is deeply calming. Through focused concentration on the
body and breath connection, yoga eases the physical and mental tensions
that can build up on a daily basis, leaving one more relaxed and capable
of dealing with everyday pressures. Studies have shown that high stress
levels render people more prone to illness, so by attending to your
psychological health, you are actually dealing with an important aspect
of your physical health.
On that note, the specific physical benefits of yoga are more direct and
quite comprehensive. By nature, yoga recognizes the natural balance of
the human body and works within its limits. It systematically works,
tones and stretches all of the muscle groups in the body, thereby making
it beneficial for such things as posture, circulation, and flexibility.
The exercises re-balance the body, relieving strain from the repetitive
motions of a trade or helping to treat or prevent injury. Yoga can also
help with more specific maladies like asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome,
diabetes, and even depression.
However, if you do suffer from any medical condition and have concerns
about how yoga will affect you, it is always best to direct these
questions to your doctor. For example, people who suffer from Diabetic
Retinopathy should not be in a position where their head is below their
heart and there are some common yoga poses that require this.
Nevertheless, this is not to say that Yoga may not be for you - in fact,
just the opposite. The beauty of yoga is in its versatility. Every pose
and stretch is modifiable in consideration of each individual's specific
capacities. Techniques can be employed to reduce or increase the amount
of exertion on the various joints and muscles of the body, allowing for
a customizable personal workout. There is no one who categorically
cannot practice yoga and therefore nobody who cannot benefit from its
far-reaching effects.
So try it out. Relax with a meditative class or sweat it out with hot
yoga; there's a workout for everyone. Take the time this week to care
for your mind and body and help promote world health.
Updates from the Blog:
Acupuncture as A Last Resort by Beverly Driver
As a certified acupuncturist with a practice in Southern California, I'm
puzzled when someone cancels or reschedules an acupuncture treatment due
to illness or an injury. Acupuncture, as an early treatment option, can
become a strategy for prevention but it can also be beneficial in
treating specific illnesses or injuries. Continue Reading...
My Muscles Are Cryingby Christina Souza Ma
Well, not just my muscles, but my joints, my limbs, and my buttocks too!
I just finished my first class in Anusara Yoga, which I will now be
calling "Downward Facing Dog" Yoga. I have not done so many Downward
Facing Dogs EVER before in a class. Continue Reading...
Spread the Love - Referral Rewards
Special care goes into the preparation of each weekly Yoga Newsletter. We invite you to help us spread the word by sharing this message with others. Once a month, we will select an individual to receive a special gift as a token of our appreciation for passing it on. Pay-It-Forward and Win »
As a certified acupuncturist with a practice in Southern California, I'm
puzzled when someone cancels or reschedules an acupuncture treatment due
to illness or an injury. Acupuncture, as an early treatment option, can
become a strategy for prevention but it can also be beneficial in
treating specific illnesses or injuries. 
Well, not just my muscles, but my joints, my limbs, and my buttocks too!
I just finished my first class in Anusara Yoga, which I will now be
calling "Downward Facing Dog" Yoga. I have not done so many Downward
Facing Dogs EVER before in a class. 
