Do You Have a Need for Yoga?

First in a series of Yoga and Health Education Articles

Do you have a need for Yoga? Do you really know what Yoga is and what it can do for you? There are yoga centers popping up all around the country and many people ranging from stay-at-home moms to celebrity’s rave about the power of Yoga. But, how can it help you?

The word “Yoga” literally means to “yoke or unify.” It specifically refers to unifying the three aspects of the human psyche: mind, body and spirit. There are many different approaches to the practice of Yoga, ranging from devotional chanting to physical movements. In the western world, we are more inclined to the physical practice of Yoga called “asana”. By unifying the breath and body movements, asana can prove to be a gratifying exercise. This is where the benefits can be directly applied to your everyday lifestyle.

Physicians and experts recommend at least thirty minutes of a physical activity, five times per week to reduce the risk of chronic health diseases. The activity must include forms of weight bearing exercises, aerobic stimulation and flexibility training. In a single Yoga class you get all three: standing poses that will strengthen muscles and bones, active movement sequences that increase oxygen intake levels which are linked to cardiovascular health, and lastly, what Yoga is famous for, flexibility training. You do not have to be flexible to start a Yoga class; the practice will help increase your range of motion, thus improving joint health as well. Additional benefits include reduced stress, improved concentration and increased self esteem.

So what does this mean? If you’re a busy person with a limited amount of free time, a great decision is to focus on a Yoga routine because in a single Yoga session you are targeting all three of the recommended physical activities. Most Yoga classes range from one to two hours, so by doing only 2-3 classes of yoga per week you will actually exceed the recommended duration of physical activity for the week! If you’re current exercise routine needs adjusting, start taking some yoga classes and begin feeling the positive effects of unifying the mind, body and spirit.

This article was written by Adabelle Quintana, as a patient education resource for The Center For True Harmony Wellness and Medicine. Edited and revised by Sherry VanGoethem, Dr.Christine Brass-Jones OBGYN, and Dr. Denise Quance Grobe N.D. If you have any questions or comments contact the office at (480) 539-6646 or through email at info@trueharmonywellness.com