Yoga is not just a form of fitness, but offers therapy for mind, body, and emotions. Yoga poses are often viewed as stretching exercises, but the yogic philosophy includes much more than stretching. The most basic aim of yoga is to balance the energy within, calm the mind, and gain harmony between the spirit and the body.

Yoga is a personal practice. Even if you are a part of a class, it is important to make note of your body and your needs. As yoga teachers often say, you need to do your own yoga practice, not your neighbor’s. Each pose can and should be adjusted to meet your limitations. For example, if you have had a neck injury, inverted poses, like the plow, could be counterproductive, and you may want to do a modified version of plow pose. Yoga allows you to make changes to any pose in order to not jeopardize your body. A good yoga class is one which opens an open space for you to practice regardless of your physical fitness level or previous experience.

Yoga is like ballet. You cannot walk into a class and expect to do it flawlessly. Even people who have practiced yoga for years are still perfecting the their practice. There is always room for improvement.

Any yoga practitioner knows that the body changes from day to day. There are days when you are more in balance or more flexible. There are other times when each pose seems difficult. It is important to accept these natural variations. Yoga can be therapeutic no matter your current physical circumstance.

Yogic postures offer therapy for body, mind and spirit, because yoga poses and yogic breathing help balance the energy within the body. The energy body is centered around seven chakras, or major energy centers, which are situated along the spine. According to yogic philosophy, the energy of the chakras is intimately related to the health of the body. For example if the thyroid is troubled, it could be linked to an problem with the throat chakra, and enhancing the balance of energy in that area might also improve the thyroid issue.

Spiritual health is not separate from, but intimately connected to our physical health. By improving the balance of mind, body, and spirit, yoga postures can create many positive outcomes in the body. Therefore, the health benefits of yoga are increasingly recognized by medical practitioners.

Flexibility is one area of improvement. Yoga as therapy never pushes a person to extremes. It focuses on safe stretches, allowing a person to release pressure in the muscles. This will reduce pain, stiffness, and fatigue. The resulting flexibility is not only gained in the muscles but in the soft tissues. People who add yoga to their exercise program most often see a marked increase in flexibility.

Another physical benefit is increased strength. There are certain yoga styles that focus on increasing strength. These are often more demanding practices, which may not appeal to everyone. However, the benefits can be gained in less extreme classes. The core muscles, for example, can be gently strengthened through poses like the plank pose, upward dog, and warrior poses.

Yoga also helps maintain or create good posture, which is increasingly vital, as we age. Internal organ function is supported by strong abdominal and back muscles. Many yoga postures help in keeping these muscle groups strong, balanced, and flexible and the posture straight and aligned.

Yoga, in short, offers numerous benefits. Building strength and flexibility of both mind and body over the long term is the best way to keep a person free from stress and disease. There are many types of yoga classes available, and each one offers its own specific benefits. One may focus on strength, and another may enhance emotional well-being through a more soothing approach. If you’re looking to try yoga, check out different classes until you find the oned that fit your objectives best.

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