Yoga
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An important physical relaxation technique
Relaxation
Techniques from Mind Tools
by Kellie
Fowler
Many people turn to yoga
for simple reasons, perhaps they just enjoy
it, perhaps they find it relieves stress,
maybe yoga helps them to better cope with
life’s ups and downs, or perhaps it's
because a physician has prescribed it. Regardless
of the reason for participating in yoga,
the result is almost always a more fulfilled
life.
If you have tried yoga,
you already know that it can help you achieve
your goals with a clearer head, a more in-tune
body and a renewed spirit.
In this article, we will
take a look at the many benefits of yoga
but we must caution that no physical fitness
program should be taken on without the knowledge
and consent of your personal physician.
Before we discuss the benefits
of yoga, we should also point out that the
body is actually an energy system with close
interplay between breathing, heart beat
and brain function. Yoga provides a useful
maintenance service for this system.
Working from the premise
that “Life is breath, breath is life,”
yoga places great emphasis on making the
breathing deep, rhythmic and effective.
The principle here is that essential thoughts
and messages are delivered more effectively
when the body is relaxed and the brain is
well-oxygenated, helping the body and mind
to work more successfully while feeling
less tired and less stressed.
Yoga breathing (as we see
in a later article in this newsletter) lowers
blood pressure and brings intense relaxation.
Of course, shallow breathing does not always
cause unclear thinking or low spirits, but
it has been medically linked with attacks
of depression, mood swings and other various
disorders.
Furthermore, improved appearance
through better posture, muscle and skin-tone,
follows the dedicated practice of yoga.
Bones are strengthened and joints become
more flexible. And, it can be amazing to
see how much more flexible the body is and
how much more positive one’s outlook
becomes with just a few month’s of
yoga practice.
If you are unable to locate
a reputable yoga studio in your area, you
may benefit from purchasing a DVD or video
that allows you to practice yoga in your
home. Keep in mind, many of these can be
checked-out at your local library or even
previewed over the Internet before purchasing.
An alternative approach
is to use the streamed video yoga exercises
provided by the Yoga
Learning Center. These videos are unbeatable
for soothing tense and aching muscles, and
helping participants relax deeply with proven
stress relieving yoga techniques. Their
programs (many of which are at an introductory
level) include yoga poses and stretches
that will help revitalize your mind and
body and refresh your spirit.
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