Is Yoga For You? Considering it’s thousands of years old, it might seem silly to say that yoga has come a long way in recent years. But as mind/body exercise continues to take hold in our modern day, the practice of yoga has moved from the alternative to the mainstream. us wondering how to manage the stress that comes along with it. While regular aerobic exercise and strength training can help, it isn’t the complete answer. Some believe yoga is the piece you need to complete the puzzle of keeping both the body and the mind fit. A TREND WORTH FOLLOWING Now, before you start conjuring up images of zoned-out new-agers in pretzellike positions chanting mantras, consider this: Yoga is an ancient practice that can help you deal with the stress of modern life. And, more and more people, stressed out or not, are discovering the benefits of yoga. In fact, it has been reported that more than six million Americans are now practicing some form of yoga. Yoga, which means to yoke or unite, is the practice of uniting all aspects of a person — body, mind and spirit — through physical postures, breathing exercises and meditation. Flexibility, strength and muscle tone improve quickly as the mind and body work together in harmony and unison. CHOOSE YOUR YOGA There are several different branches of yoga, each with its own unique focus. Hatha yoga, the most widely practiced form, emphasizes concentration and consists of gentle stretching and strengthening exercises. Because prana, or life force, is thought to originate in the breath, Pranayama yoga uses breathing exercises and breath control to enhance vitality and energy. Mantra yoga uses the concentrated repetition of a word or phrase to aid in the control of the mind. A TIME TO RELAX For some, yoga is a primary means of relaxation, something that is often difficult to achieve in the high-stress, high-speed world we live in. Regardless of which type you choose, yoga is an excellent way to stretch and strengthen the body, focus the mind and relax the spirit. In fact, most modern stress-reduction techniques are based on the principles of yoga. Dr. Dean Ornish, in his work with heart patients, utilizes yoga exercises, breathing and relaxation techniques to reverse symptoms of heart disease. Current research indicates that stress-related diseases respond favorably to this type of approach. EASING INTO IT The best way to get started in yoga is to find a class that appeals to you. Find out where yoga classes are being held in your area and stop by to see how you like it. There are many different approaches to yoga — some focus on breathing, others focus on holding specific postures — and it’s important to find the one that appeals to you the most. A YOGA WORKOUT Yoga is a great way not only to relax, but also to improve your performance in other activities. Once you have learned a few yoga moves and breathing techniques, they can easily be integrated let any preconceived notions of yoga keep you from enjoying the benefits of this dynamic mind/body exercise.

"Make the Connection" Give yoga try and discover what it can do for body and mind. A central premise in yoga is "everything is connected." That's clear when looking at the health and fitness benefits of yoga that have long been reported by practitioners and are now being confirmed by scientific research. STRESS RELIEF. Yoga reduces the physical effects of stress on the body. By encouraging relaxation, yoga helps to lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Related benefits include lowering blood pressure and heart rate, improving digestion and boosting the immune system as well as easing symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, asthma and insomnia. PAIN RELIEF. Yoga can ease pain. Studies have demonstrated that practicing yoga asanas (postures), meditation or a combination of the two, reduced pain for people with conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, auto-immune diseases and hypertension as well as arthritis, back and neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, eczema, irritable bowel syndrome and other chronic conditions. Some practitioners report that even emotional pain can be eased through the practice of yoga. BETTER BREATHING. Yoga teaches people to take slower, deeper breaths. This helps to improve lung function, trigger the body's relaxation response and increase the amount of oxygen available to the body. FLEXIBILITY. Yoga helps to improve flexibility and mobility, increasing range of movement and reducing aches and pains. Many people can't touch their toes during their first yoga class. Practitioners begin to use the correct muscles to make the movement and, over time, the ligaments, tendons and muscles gradually lengthen and elasticity is increased. These gradual changes can mean that more and more poses are possible. INCREASED STRENGTH. Yoga asanas (postures) use every muscle in the body, helping to increase strength literally from head to toe. And, while the postures practiced in yoga strengthen the body, they also provide an additional benefit of helping to relieve muscular tension. WEIGHT MANAGEMENT. Yoga (even less vigorous styles) can aid weight control efforts by reducing the cortisol levels as well as by burning excess calories and reducing stress. Yoga also encourages healthy eating habits and provides a heightened sense of well being and self esteem. IMPROVED CIRCULATION. Yoga helps to improve circulation and, as a result of various poses, more efficiently moves oxygenated blood to the body's cells. CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONING. Even gentle yoga practice can provide cardiovascular benefits by lowering resting heart rate, increasing endurance and improving oxygen uptake during exercise. BETTER BODY ALIGNMENT. Yoga helps to improve body alignment, resulting in better posture and helping to relieve back, neck, joint and muscle problems. FOCUS ON THE PRESENT. Yoga helps us to focus on the present, to become more aware and to help create mind body health. It opens the way to improved coordination, reaction time and memory. "Yoga leads to a body that is easeful, a mind that is peaceful, which results in a life that is useful." Paraphrased from Swami Satchidananda, a pioneer in bringing yoga to the United States.