Yoga exercises
strengthen your body and make it more flexible. Yoga also calms your mind and
gives you energy. In active sports or strenuous exercises, you use up energy.
In yoga classes, students report that they feel tranquil after a class, yet
have more energy. Slow and steady motion is the key to going into or coming out
of the postures. You hold a yoga pose for several seconds or even minutes and
give attention to full, quiet breath. Your yoga instructor will always
encourage you to relax as the exercises are being done.
You gently place your
body into yoga postures. Done correctly, there's very little chance of injury
or muscle stress. A particular asana is not repeated dozens of times, nor are
you ever encouraged to push yourself too much.
A yoga session is
designed for balance. You stretch to the right and then to the left. You bend
back and then forward. You learn to recognize when one side is stronger or more
flexible than the other. Thus harmony and balance are achieved with yoga practice.
People of all ages
can practice yoga exercises. They are easily modified to meet your needs and
physical condition. Don't be put off by the difficult looking postures you may
see in a yoga book. A skilled teacher can adapt most asanas by using chairs,
cushions, even a wall or other props. A yoga practice can be tailor-made just
for you. If something is really impossible for you to do, just forget it. Never
compete with yourself or others. Yoga is a stress-free but powerful way to
exercise.
Yoga
is good for increasing your flexibility and relieving stress, but it doesn't
take the place of aerobic exercise. You should still do regular, aerobic
exercise, which increases your cardiovascular fitness, helps you lose weight,
and, for people with non-insulin-dependent (type II) diabetes at least,
improves blood glucose control.
