Great article from the Medical Daily.

No, Yoga Won't Tear Your Achilles Tendon Or Cause Stroke; It's Just As Safe As Any Other Exercise

Aug 12, 2015 04:19 PM By Lecia Bushak

Some research has shown that possible adverse complications of yoga may include torn ligaments, stroke, or even blood clots, but a new study counters that by noting there are dangers associated with any type of exercise. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

 

Yoga has become quite a popular pastime for Americans — nearly 20 million practice it in the U.S. — and its benefits abound. Research has shown that yoga can combat chronic pain, stress and depression , and a variety of other conditions, including heart disease and chemotherapy side effects.

But when the media jumps on touting the benefits of a new practice, there will always be the naysayers to balance it out. In 2012, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist William J. Broad wrote an article in the New York Times called “How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body.” Broad, who practices yoga himself, also wrote a book called “The Science of Yoga,” in which he explores both the risks and rewards of the practice. While yoga had always helped him manage stress, he explains, it comes with a myriad of health risks, including the rare but dangerous blood clot, joint injuries, and torn ligaments.

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Of course, these things can be possibilities — albeit rare ones — in yoga. But a newstudy published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, and led by Dr. Holger Cramer of the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany, states that yoga isn’t any more dangerous than other exercises. In the study, Cramer examined randomized controlled trials and found that only two percent of people who did yoga experienced adverse effects. Many of that percentage already had severe diseases, he found.

There are risks associated with running, contact sports, hiking, biking, and even swimming — in short, there are possible adverse health effects involved with any form of exercise. But when we look at yoga generally, Cramer argues, its benefits outweigh its risks.

It’s not that Broad himself is against yoga; he merely points out its possible negative complications. There is one major benefit of yoga, however, that you won’t get in many other exercises, he explains.

“There’s been study after study after study that says you do not get your heart pumping in the way you do in aerobic sports like running, swimming, and spinning,” he told NPR. “On the other hand … yoga has this remarkable quality to relax you, to de-stress you. That means your heart rate goes down. That means if you’re prone to hypertension, that lowers. There are all these wonderful cardio effects that come from the other end of the spectrum: the relaxation of the heart, rather than the pumping-up phenomena that you get from aerobic sports.”

When it comes to any exercise, you’re going to face some risks. But with yoga, at least you know it’s guaranteed to relax you in some way and help boost your mood and mental health.

Source: Cramer H, Ward L, Saper R, Fishbein D, Dobos G, Lauche R. The Safety of Yoga: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2015.

Yoga can help all of you runners out there - Stuff.co.nz

Why runners should do yoga

 

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Rachel finds yoga helps greatly in her training for marathons.

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Are you taking part in a marathon soon? There are a few on the horizon, including the Blackmores Sydney Marathon next month, while the ASB Auckland Marathon, the Air NZ Queenstown International Marathon and the Taniwha marathon in Waikato are some 42-kilometre events on in November.

If you are running in one of these events then you will be increasing your training miles. So below I've listed 15 reasons why you should incorporate yoga into your weekly training. I love both of these disciplines, by the way. I'm a qualified yoga teacher who takes yoga sessions for runners (I work with weekend warriors mostly, but some elite athletes too). I always joke with them that I'd like to swap some of my flexibility for their speed; while they sometimes wish they could borrow some of my flexibility.

No matter what speed you run at – whether you are at the back of the pack or leading a race – injury prevention is important. But there are so many other reasons why runners should tap into the ancient practice of yoga.

Meanwhile, I've been working hard on my own home yoga practice too. I ran the Taupo Marathon two weeks ago (a beautiful course that started at Huka Falls and also showcased Lake Taupo), and I'm running my ninth marathon very soon in Sydney. It's part of my goal to smash 10 marathons!

15 reasons why you should mix yoga with running:

1. It's about using a tool that will help you to become a better runner. It's as simple as that. Running and yoga complement each other.

2. It can increase your range of motion in muscles and across joints. This can be key to preventing too much pressure and wearing down on some areas, which can lead to injuries.

3. You learn to feel where imbalances and weaknesses are in your body so you can work on these. It's about getting the body in balance.

4. It can help loosen tight spots. Again this is key to injury prevention and affecting your range in motion. Tight spots don't feel good either, so iron them out.

5. You'll discover your core and this helps you keep upright in an event! You know when you get to the finish line and you think you look amazing, but then you see the finish- pictures and you resemble a hunched-over 100-year-old? That's why you need yoga.

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6. It's good for focus. Train the mind to help you to go further in a race – it's about will power when you get past the halfway mark.

7. Yogis are strong. People think it's all about stretching and looking glam, but that's a tiny part of it. Yogis have a lot of all-over body strength. 

8. It improves ankle stability. Everyone wants to avoid rolling their ankles, right? Balance postures are amazing for this – think the tree, eagle and aeroplane poses.

9. Proprioception – know where your limbs are in space. Think rock-hopping on off-road races – one slightly misplaced toe and a race can be all over.

10. Meditation at the end of yoga will help you chill out. Come on people, how many of you are a tad stressed?

11. You learn great form and alignment. Good posture is helpful for standing well and running. You also look good with better posture.

12. It's about engaging muscles too. Doing yoga can help you switch on muscles or fire them properly. Injuries can happenwhen you don't "fire your glutes" properly", as just one example.

13. It's great for breath work i.e. using belly breathing. This can increase your use of oxygen.

14. Yoga is fun. Feel like a kid again.  This will help you smile and to be a happy runner. Well, it works for me anyhow.

15. Yoga is about connecting well with your own body, but also too about connecting well with others. Sharing a yoga class with other runners means you have a lot in common with the yogi next to you!

If you'd like to join Rachel for a "yoga for runners" session (Auckland only), then email rachel@inspiredhealth.co.nz

Rachel Grunwell is a mum, marathoner, yoga teacher, adventurer and a "wellbeing warrior". She writes a weekly column for Well & Good.

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August 4, 2015Huffpost Healthy Living

 

 

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Is Yoga the Next New 'Antioxidant'?

Posted: 08/03/2015 5:47 pm EDT Updated: 08/03/2015 5:59 pm EDT

 

Have you ever wondered why people who do yoga often look a lot younger than their age? A new study on yoga might have some answers.

A study in the July 2015 Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that 12 weeks of yoga amped up the body's natural defense system against toxins. Yoga raised the level of natural antioxidants in the body and strengthened the immune system.

What are antioxidants and why are they important for our health?

When we process food for energy or when we are exposed to toxins like air pollution or ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun, our body produces harmful byproducts calledfree radicals. These chemicals circulate through our blood and can damage DNA, cells, and tissues. Scientists call this harmful process unleashed by free radicals "oxidative stress." The effect of oxidative stress on the body has been linked to medical issues like heart disease, cancer, and even eye problems like glaucoma.

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals in the body and come in many forms: vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, and minerals like selenium and manganese. The list of antioxidants is long and diverse, including proteins, enzymes, and compounds like glutathione, coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, flavonoids, phenols, polyphenols, and phytoestrogens.

Eating foods rich in antioxidants like certain beans, nuts, fruits, and vegetables and even chocolate, has been linked to better memory and heart health. Polyphenols, a type of antioxidant found in green tea, are thought to help prevent cancer. Antioxidants on the skin help to slow the effects of aging caused by UV damage, such as sun spots and wrinkles.

Now yoga can be added to your list of natural antioxidant boosters.

The new study found that 12 weeks of yoga led to higher levels of antioxidants in the body and less signs of oxidative stress compared to people who did running, cycling, or jumping rope. Not only that, but the immune system of people who did yoga improved. Women and men in the study did 90 minutes of yoga weekly in a class and 40 minutes at home for at least three times a week over 12 weeks.

If you are looking to experience the same benefits, make sure to try a well-rounded yoga program that includes more than just yoga postures.The study's weekly class included:

  • 35 minutes of yoga poses (asanas)
  • 30 minutes of yoga breathing exercises (pranayama) and
  • 25 minutes of meditation including a loving-kindness (Metta) meditation and self-awareness exercise that focused on a non-judgmental attitude.

Yoga, unlike the other types of exercise, led to lower levels of nitric oxide, a chemical which, in excess, acts as a harmful free radical. Yoga also lowered signs of oxidative stress in the body, including byproducts like malondialdehyde and F2-isoprostane and the stress hormone adrenaline.

Our bodies have natural antioxidant defense systems that combat oxidative stress.Yoga increased these natural antioxidants in the body, including higher levels of the protein glutathione and an enzyme called glutathione peroxidase. Glutathione levels went up for both the yoga and regular exercise groups, but much more so in the yoga group: Yoga more than doubled the presence of the natural antioxidant protein glutathione in the body. This supports earlierresearch that 6 months of yoga led to higher antioxidant levels.

Yoga also strengthens the immune system. Your immune system has many important players, including defense proteins called cytokines. The 12-week study found that yoga was linked with higher levels of important cytokines that are responsible for keeping your immune system strong. This supports ongoing studies that show yoga not only reduces stress on the body but also makes your immune system stronger.

So if you're looking to boost antioxidants in your body, you aren't just limited toblueberries or dark chocolate anymore -- you can roll out your mat and do some yoga, too.

After yoga climb a tree to boost your memory - Times of India.

After yoga, climb a tree to boost your memory

IANS | Aug 3, 2015, 02.48 PM IST

 

 

 

You may have attempted this during childhood but climbing a tree and balancing on a beam along with yoga exercises can dramatically improve cognitive skills in adults too, researchers at the University of North Florida have found.

By doing activities that make us think, we can exercise our brains as well as our bodies, they said.

"By taking a break to do activities that are unpredictable and require us to consciously adapt our movements, we can boost our working memory to perform better in the classroom and the boardroom," said research associate Dr Ross Alloway.

The results suggest that working memory improvements can be made in just a couple of hours of these physical exercises.

"Improving working memory can have a beneficial effect on so many areas in our life. It is exciting to see that 'proprioceptive dynamic activities' can enhance it in such a short period of time," added study co-author Tracy Alloway.

For the study, researchers recruited adults ages 18 to 59 and tested their working memory. Proprioception, the awareness of body positioning and orientation, is associated with working memory.

One group was given dynamic activities while the other were asked to join yoga classes, defined as "static proprioceptive activities".

The participants undertook activities like climbing trees, walking and crawling on a beam approximately three-inches wide, moving while paying attention to posture, running barefoot, navigating over, under and around obstacles, as well as lifting and carrying awkwardly-weighted objects.

After two hours, participants were tested again.

The researchers found that their working memory capacity had increased dramatically by 50 percent.

"Proprioceptively dynamic training" may place a greater demand on working memory because as environment and terrain changes, the individual recruits working memory to update information to adapt appropriately.

"Though the yoga control group engaged in activities that required awareness of body position, it was relatively static as they performed the yoga postures in a small space which did not allow for locomotion or navigation," the authors noted.

However, neither control group experienced working memory benefits.

The paper was published in the journal Perceptual and Motor Skills

Great article in today's Metro promoting yoga

13 reasons everyone should practice yoga

 

Divya ModhaMonday 27 Jul 2015 2:24 pm

Modern life can be a handful, so it’s essential to de-stress from the seemingly endless stream of noise and thoughts.

Yoga can help to manage our lifestyles and move towards becoming an all-round happier and healthier person.

It is regarded as both a science and an art form by many. So kick off your shoes, assume the lotus position and let out a great big ‘ommmm’…

1. Yoga can make you happy

Yoga is good for stress relief and relaxation. Recent studies have shown that continued yoga practice alters the chemistry of the brain helping to improve your mood.

2. Hatha yoga is good for depression and anxiety

Hatha is an attractive alternative in self-healing. With aspects of yoga having valid biological, psychological, and behavioural factors that can improve symptoms of depression and anxiety.

3. Yoga is great for your posture

Practicing yoga is good for posture alignment. It helps the body to stretch, and it opens up areas where there may be stress and tightness, the places in the body that have been lying dormant.

This can be helped with a little focus and gentle exercise.

4. Yoga makes the body flexible and more responsive

Agility and mental clarity are improved through yoga practice.

5. Yoga improves your bodily functions

It’s like a detox retreat for your body! Whilst practicing yoga you are also massaging your insides, which in effect helps them to work better.

6. Yoga helps you to recognise your emotions and brings your mind and body into balance

Yoga helps the whole of your body rather than only the physical. Yoga is a holistic approach to well-being.

7. Yoga has its own International Day

Celebrate International Yoga Day, which this year was led by Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister. It falls on June 21.

8. Yoga is a learning process, some regard it as a discipline.

It’s like a seed of awareness that blossoms and flourishes from within. Yoga can help you engage in your own body. You’ll learn to tune in with yourself and learn what works best for you. The more you practice the better you get.

9. Yoga improves your appetite

Kick start your routine with a good stretch, you’ll start to think healthy and eat healthy with practice.

10. Yoga is a great way to make friends

Yoga centres and communities are a good way to meet likeminded people. Practicing allows you to be kinder to yourself and others.

11. Yoga is good for calming the mind

Mindfulness and meditation are all part of the yogic journey, helping you to become kinder to yourself and more thoughtful too.

12. Essentially yoga is about YOU

Self-practice is good practice. Learning and taking part in yoga will help you improve your existing life skills.

13. Yoga crosses boundaries

Whatever your age, whatever your size, whatever your fitness levels. Anyone can practice yoga and feel the benefits.



Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2015/07/27/13-reasons-everyone-should-practice-yoga-5314703/#ixzz3h6u1wApD

Yoga is great for helping you sleep . From MBG

The Only Yoga Pose You Need For Great Sleep

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Want better sleep? You might want to try yoga. A Harvard study on insomnia found that people who consistently practiced yoga for just eight weeks slept better and longer than those who didn't practice.

If you're too busy to fit in some yoga, the good news is that you can improve your sleep with just one pose: Legs-Up-The-Wall (Viparita Karani). This asana is considered a restorative, gentle inversion and though it's usually practiced at the end of a yoga class, it can be helpful on its own to relax the body.

And when you're able to relax the body, it becomes easier to relax the mind, setting the stage for more restful sleep. Practice Legs-Up-The-Wall at night before getting into bed, or in the middle of the night when sleep is elusive. Add in some gentle breathing and the effects are even better! This pose can be practiced by beginners and beyond.

Getting Into Legs-Up-The-Wall

Sit sideways with your right side against the wall. Exhale and gently swing your legs up onto the wall and your shoulders and head lightly down onto the floor. Coming into this pose may take some practice. Your sitting bones don’t need to be right against the wall, depending on the tightness of your hamstrings. Experiment with the position until you find the placement that works for you.

This pose is not intended to stretch the backs of the legs, so if you feel pulling in the hamstrings move farther away from the wall. Keep the lower back grounded to the floor. Make a small roll with a hand towel to place under your neck if the cervical spine at the base of your neck feels too flat. Open your shoulder blades away from your spine and release your hands and arms out to your sides, palms up.

Keep your legs relatively firm, just enough to hold them vertically in place. If you struggle to keep your legs upright, take a yoga strap or something similar and place it around your legs just below the knees and gently tighten to hold the legs up right, allowing you to further relax into the pose. Gently close and soften your eyes, then scan the body. Soften into any tightness you find along the way.

Incorporate Equal Breathing

You can deepen your experience and the calming effect of this pose by focusing on the breath. Begin by placing one hand on the lower belly and one hand over the heart, expand your awareness to include the natural rhythms of your breath.

Once comfortable here, begin to take slow, gentle and deep inhales and exhales, without forcing and straining. Try to make the length of the exhales match your inhales. "Equal breathing" (called sama vritti in yoga, “sama” meaning even and smooth, and “vritti” meaning fluctuations) is said to create a balance of the flow of consciousness, smoothing fluctuations of the mind into stillness.

Stay in this pose for anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes, allowing your breath to return to normal for the last few minutes. Stay present with the sense of calm and equanimity that this pose brings. When you are ready to come out, bend your knees halfway toward your chest and roll to one side. Use your arms to help you sit up, moving slowly and mindfully.

Other Benefits & Disclaimers

Performing quiet, restorative poses can help calm your body and mindrelieving stress and anxiety. When the legs are stretched up the wall and are higher than the heart, gravity can help the circulation of both blood and lymphatic fluid.

Although Legs-Up-The-Wall is safe for most individuals, those who are pregnant or that have been diagnosed with glaucoma, high blood pressure, or any serious problems with the neck or spine, should consult their doctor first.

Photo Credit: Becca Katzmann

 

Yoga is getting bigger and bigger and you know that the UK will only follow!

Yoga Has Become A $27 Billion Industry In The U.S.

 

WASHINGTON – While the world celebrated the first International Yoga Day June 21, over 20 million Americans have already been practicing the ancient Indian meditative exercise, fueling the whopping $27 billion yoga industry in the country.

Years ago when the U.S. was first introduced to the 5,000-year-old Indian physical, mental and spiritual practice that aims to transform the body and mind, people would confuse yoga with yogurt. However, nowadays a higher and higher number of Americans have resorted to it for health benefits and no longer make this confusion.

A whopping 20.4 million Americans reportedly practice yoga in the U.S., a significant increase from the 15.8 million yoga practitioners in 2008.

The business of yoga is growing fast, too. Americans are spending over $11 billion a year on yoga classes and gear (pants, mats, bags and blocks), up by 88 percent from 2008, according to media reports.

With an increasing number of yoga practitioners comes an increasing number of places to practice. Bikram, Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga studios can be found all across America but are more concentrated in some states than others.

Alaska hosts the most yoga studios per capita out of every state in the U.S. despite its minuscule population, the Huffington Post reported in March.

“Yoga is becoming an increasingly popular form of exercise in the U.S., and it is imperative to systematically examine its health benefits, especially the mental health benefits that this unique mind-body form of activity may offer,” said Edward McAuley, Illinois kinesiology and community health professor.

Many breweries have also joined the yoga bandwagon in hosting happy hour events, where one can attend a yoga class and grab a beer at an attractive price.

Washington’s Hellbender Brewing Company has launched a “Detox to Retox,” a monthly summer series of yoga, tastings and discounts, while Capitol City Brewing Company offers “Asana & Ale” in Shirlington, the Wshington Post reported.

Yoga was first introduced to America by Swami Vivekananda, who came to America in 1893 to address the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago.

The Huffington Post, in a January 2014 article, traces the growth of yoga into a $27 billion industry to Sat Jivan Singh Khalsa, “a lawyer moonlighting as a Kundalini yoga teacher,” who moved to New York to open a yoga studio in 1971.

It was a time, as Khalsa told the Post, when “people confused yoga and yogurt. They were both brand new, and nobody knew what either of them was.”

At that time, there were only a couple of yoga studios in New York. Today dozens of yoga variations can be found within a 1-mile radius of his studio.

“The love of yoga is out there, and the time is right for yoga,” Khalsa said.

In June 2014, over 11,000 people preformed yoga at the busy Times Square in New York and stretched out in the sun to commemorate the summer solstice.

The UN adopted an India-led resolution declaring June 21 as the International Day of Yoga in December 2014, less than three months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed the idea.

You are never to old to start Yoga!

Twist to old age: Senior citizens take to yoga for good health

 

Times of India ,  May 22nd.

Sunitha Rao

 

 

BENGALURU: Autumn sits lightly on these senior citizens. The yogic postures the members of the senior citizens' club of Terrace Garden, Katriguppe, South Bengaluru, strike not only put youngsters to shame but also mitigate problems such as sleeplessness, loneliness, arthritis, diabetes and fluctuating blood pressure. As the clock strikes 6.30pm, the veterans assemble on the ground floor of the group housing complex. Their yoga teacher Rajesh Kumar from Shankara Yoga Kendra watches as they begins their asana practice. Those who are unable to sit on the ground use props like chairs to do yoga. The group meets five times a week.

"I put myself in their shoes while instructing them. It's important to know the health complications and status of each of these students before teaching them asanas. You can't teach them everything as you do with young people," says Rajesh. One of his earliest students was a 92-year-old man. "I was little hesitant to teach him, but I ended up learning a lot from the senior citizen. Since then, I've been running classes exclusively for senior citizens," he says. The classes in Katriguppe began in January when S Manohar, 60, decided to take up yoga. "I was bedridden six years ago with my right side paralysed. I was in ICU for a month. I battled memory loss and lack of clear vision. Medicines helped me recover but it is yoga that is keeping me going. My memory has improved and I can run and drive a car now," says Manohar, who took the initiative of bringing a yoga teacher to the apartment complex.

The building has 136 flats with more than 45 senior citizens, of which 25 are regulars at the yoga class. Vishala Krishnan, 71, says she was unable to sit on the floor before she started classes. "Yoga has made me flexible and improved my confidence," she says. Another regular, Padma Rao, 69, says she sleeps better after doing yoga. They've conquered the relatively simpler asanas and are now setting their sights higher. "I want to do sarvanagasana one day," says Krishnan Parthasarathy, 67. Among the veterans are some who tried watching DVDs on yoga but failed to replicate the postures. "A teacher trains a mind. You can't learn perfect postures by watching," says KVS Rao, 61. "Here we get personal attention and explanations."

R N Iyengar, 81, a yoga teacher from Mathikere, says a yoga teacher requires patience and willingness to listen to students. "I started doing yoga seriously when I was 40. Now I train more than 160 people daily. Among them there are 10 senior citizens. It is important to listen to senior citizens and ensure that the asanas suit their medical conditions. We have to work on their mental health as well," he says.
 

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Thanks Kathy,

Yardley Yoga: to boldly stretch where you have never stretched before?

 

Having toyed with yoga on and off for many years, I can honestly say that Guy’s class is the best I have been to. Whether you’re a genuine gym bunny or a person “of a certain age” this class is for you. There are never more than six participants which means you can take the poses further if you want to or you can ask for help if you’re not sure about something. Guy plans the lessons really well with a variety of postures and stretches and a meditation session at the end. All the equipment you need is provided and the loft studio is in an idyllic position. Even Stanley the Labrador is on hand to demonstrate downward dog…I highly recommend Yardley Yoga as a tonic for both mind and body.

Kathy Harris

7 reasons why yoga should be your new thing.

7 Reasons Why Yoga Should Be Your New Thing

 

In today’s society, everyone lives in the fast lane. Need a peaceful retreat to escape to? Make yours a yoga studio.

A hectic work / life balance makes it easy to lose perspective of the things that matter, like your health! By becoming a yoga-buff, you address every aspect of your ‘being;’ the physical, mental and the spiritual – something that running 5k on a treadmill can’t achieve.

Yoga should definitely become your new thing. A happy, de-stressed mind with beach-body to match? Yes please. Here are 7 reasons to grab your yoga mat and go find your inner peace. Namaste.

 

 

Curbs Insomnia

If you’re tossing and turning at night, yoga could help. Very often those who can’t clock in the essential 7-8 hours a night have an overactive mind before going to bed, due to stress or too much ‘screen’ time (put the smartphone down!)

By incorporating yoga into your daily routine you can help relax those muscles ready for a good night’s sleep. Researchers at Harvard Medical School asked participants who suffered varying degrees of insomnia to practice basic yoga every day for 8 weeks and keep a sleep diary of their results. From the study, they found “statistically significant improvements were observed” when comparing the start of the 8 week period to the end.  

Harvard Medical School explains, it’s yoga’s multicomponent nature that helps “reduce arousal” and encourage a relaxed state of mind before your head hits the pillow.

 

Effective Weight Loss

Forget gym fads; regular yoga sessions promote effective weight loss with longer lasting results. Despite being a low-impact sport, research conducted by medical researcher Alan Kristal of theFred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center suggests that yoga can help people of all ages make visible improvements to their waistline.  

From an extended study Kristal conducted on the effects of yoga on weight loss, he found that “yoga practice for four or more years was associated with a 3.1-lb lower weight gain among normal weight and an 18.5-lb lower weight gain among overweight participants.” Bored of the gym? Stretch yourself slim with yoga.

 

Thoughtful Eater

From his study for the Cancer Research Center, Kristal determined that of the positive effects yoga has on weight loss; not all can be attributed to the physical aspect of the discipline. The impact it has on your mental and spiritual self also plays its part. In short, a calmer, collected, happier you is more likely to make better lifestyle choices.

Harvard Health Publications describe it as ‘mindfulness.’ Those who pursue yoga tend to comfort-eat less often, and instead,  “focus their attention on what they’re experiencing in the present moment without judging themselves.” Yoga helps remove any emotional connection to eating, encouraging you to naturally want and eat healthy, well-balanced meals.

 

Makes You Stand Taller

Stretching and lengthening the muscles not only leaves you looking lovely and lean; it’s great for your health too, alleviating back, shoulder and neck pains and improving your sense of balance. This enables you to stand taller and appear more confident (and attractive!) to others.

If you’re guilty of slouching at your desk and your posture shows it, try yoga. According to yoga therapist Eva Norlyk Smith, research proves that it can help improve bad posture and “even reverse hyperkyphosis, the age-related posture issue also known as dowager's hump.”

 

There’s Never Just One Yoga

Gym machines can get quite repetitive, and whilst basic yoga steps (or Hatha yoga) seems relatively slow moving, there are ways to spice it up.

There are several types of yoga practices just waiting for you to try out – like the hot and steamy Bikram yoga, designed to push the body’s limits under 40 °C heat. The high temperature’s said to encourage the body to release toxins as you sweat, in addition to improving muscular endurance and cardiovascular flexibility.

Then there’s Ashtanga yoga that involves continuous high-intensity stretches over an extended period of time. This is arguably the most challenging yoga practice, synchronising effective breathing techniques with physically demanding poses.

But the latest yoga craze to sweep the nation is #extremeyoga, in which adrenalin junkies visit the most scenic spots in the world (cliff edges and arctic conditions included) to pull out their best#extremeyoga move. It’s not for the faint hearted!

 

Enhances Your Immunity

Everyone knows that yoga’s amazing for the body, gradually toning and strengthening each muscle group as you stretch. But there’s also research to suggest that yoga can alleviate symptoms of certain other health conditions that you might not have realised.

Suffer during allergy season? Through deep, extended breaths and meditation, you can ease and soothe your sinuses. A study made by Sweden’s Karolinska suggests that humming through each pose helps too.                                           

Not only that, the twists, turns and stretches of yoga also help to reduce lymph congestion. Carrie Demers of Yoga International explains how yoga detoxes the body of “toxins and cellular waste” by enabling the lymphatic system (the white blood cells that enhance our immunity) work to its potential. Yoga improves the circulatory system and cardiovascular health, which in turn, keeps everything else running smoothly. 

 

Better Body Image

There are no two ways about it; yoga makes you happy. It strips away superficialities and forces you to focus on the present, allowing you to develop your emotional strength as well as the physical. This new sense of emotional empowerment helps improve low self-esteem; boosting confidence and positivity.  

Harvard Health Publications notes that this is the reason why many yoga studios avoid using mirrors, encouraging people to “focus their awareness inward rather than how a pose – or the people around them – look.”  They believe that by regularly practicing yoga, you learn to become less self-critical and more appreciative of what you have. 

Look great for the Summer holidays

From today we will be starting a 13 week yoga programme to make sure that you look great on the beach this summer. Whilst it may not be strictly yogic, I'm sure you won't mind if  you end up looking that great. Please email or call for further details.  Have a great week and I look forward to seeing you all at your regular lessons.  Best,   Guy.