Is Yoga Balanced?

It Improves Body Awareness

According to Harvard Health, “Surveys have found that those who practiced yoga were more aware of their bodies than people who didn’t practice yoga.”  Developing more awareness of where one’s body is in space and how one moves improves mobility and reduces the likelihood of developing pain and stiffness.

Harvard Health also stated that: “Researchers studied a small group of sedentary individuals who had not practiced yoga before. After eight weeks of practicing yoga at least twice a week for a total of 180 minutes, participants had greater muscle strength and endurance, flexibility, and cardio-respiratory fitness.”  The improvements cited are all essential components of optimal health and an active lifestyle.

It Improved Body Alignment

It’s more than just muscles and joints,  optimal body alignment is also important to one’s overall physical health.  For example, when one shoulder is more forward or higher than the other, many other muscles and joints are thrown out of alignment in order to compensate.  The result is pain and stiffness in other areas of the body.  It just plain physics.

Standing or sitting perfectly straight requires strong muscles, balance in movement, and range of motion, for optimal body alignment.  Conversely, bad habits can take the body out of balance.

Without Regular Exercise or Movement Practice, Our Bodies Begin to Decline with Age

A gradual decline in muscle strength and flexibility starts in one’s 40’s if one does not have a regular exercise or movement practice affecting balance.  Over time balance, strength, and flexibility declines until sometime in one’s 60’s or 70’s one becomes unsteady on their feet.

The same is true of optimal body alignment.  Bad habits slowly take over without notice.  Lack of movement and too much sitting results in a loss of strength and flexibility, and in some cases, a reduction in agility and endurance.

Repetitive movements in our daily lives often contribute to a reduction in the range of motion.  It is also the case when an exercise program repeats the same movements week after week; only those muscles and joints become strong and flexible. The other muscles do not receive any benefit. Is your exercise program diverse enough?

Additionally, if one exercises when the body is not aligned, the muscles are strengthened to be in a position that is not optimal for the body, which may lead to pain and mobility issues.

Before long, one doesn’t even notice the imbalances of the body or the decline in function.

Variety in Movement is Essential

When one participates in an exercise program, it’s essential to vary the movements and the stresses on the body.  Muscles and joints are designed to move in many directions.  Movement of the joints in many directions is part of a proper yoga practice.

Yoga also strengthens the muscles and improves coordination.  Body awareness is also emphasized in yoga, improving mobility, and reducing the likelihood of developing pain and stiffness or having balance issues as one ages.

When deciding if a movement practice is right for you look for the following:

• Varied movements
• Strength and flexibility exercises
• Exercises that require balancing, especially on 1 foot
• Emphasis on optimal body alignment and correct form
• Varying routines
• Program design that challenges you
• Head-to-toe approach

And finally, one that you enjoy performing.  For me, that is yoga.  Not only does my body maintain its flexibility and strength, but I am able to get emotionally balanced as well.

Are you interested in trying yoga to regain the physical freedom you once had?  Sign up for one of my online yoga classes.  It’s a great way to give it a try and find out if yoga is something you would enjoy.

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