Yoga

Originated in ancient India, Yoga or “union” ultimate aim is to create a balance between the body and the mind. In order to accomplish it, Yoga makes use of different movements, physical postures, breathing exercises and relaxation technique. Yoga is associated with a healthy and lively lifestyle with a balanced approach to life. When appropriately taught, it can boost your strength, balance and flexibility, improve your breathing, soothe pain, quiet the mind, and help with weight loss.

The many practices of yoga: gentle, restorative, power, and hot style, among others, appeal to people seeking anything from a vigorous workout or rehab to meditation or stress relief. Women tend to prefer the more gentle styles of yoga while Men tend to favor the more athletic, fast-moving styles such as Vinyasa and Ashtanga. Many discover that holding the most intense positions, builds strength not the brute strength of a power lifter but the tensile strength of a martial-arts master.
There is a growing cadre of pro athletes going yoga. Some say yoga is a complementary cross training, prevent injuries or reduce pain and others such as golf pros say yoga flexing gives them greater range of motion in the hip and shoulder joints, which generates extra power and distance. No matter what draws them into yoga, recent converts marvel at how energized they feel on the way out of a session. Beyond all the bodywork, there's a yoga bonus: the way it sharpens your mental game. Athletes say the breathing calms their nerves and hones their focus on the job.

How do we know yoga really works? Research, suggests a wide variety of health-positive effects-for arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, coronary-artery disease and asthma, among other things. Researchers found that 15 weeks of yoga training brought a 10 percent improvement in lung capacity. Dr. Dean Ornish has found evidence that yoga can help fight cardiovascular disease. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, is currently supporting its use for insomnia and chronic lower-back pain. In late 2010, study results found that participants who practiced yoga experienced better moods and less anxiety. In addition, the new data suggest that yoga boosts levels of the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps induce relaxation.

To find the right yoga class and instructor for you:
1. Consider your goals and overall fitness level.
2. Select your yoga style.
3. Find a certified teacher.
4. Take sample classes. You need to experiment. Go to different classes with different instructors and styles.