There are almost as many great reasons to do yoga as there are yoga poses.
Yoga has been shown to increase strength and flexibility while decreasing stress and promoting mindfulness. It can also lead to significant health benefits by increasing circulation, regulating adrenal function, and improving bone and joint health.
But there are many misconceptions that keep people from trying yoga.
First, there’s the idea that you already have to be extremely flexible to start yoga. It’s just not true. Just like any new skill, the more you practice yoga, the better you’ll get at it. You don’t need to be flexible to benefit from yoga- moving your muscles and joints through their full range of motion will increase your flexibility over time and can even help to prevent or improve poor posture.
Another myth that keeps people who are already regular exercisers from trying yoga is that is just for stretching and isn’t really a workout. Again, not true! Because it involves stability and balance training, breath control, and mental focus, yoga can help athletes at all levels prevent injuries and improve their athletic performance.
There are many different styles of yoga that range from meditative to power yoga, so finding one that fits your movement goals is important in getting the benefits that you want. At Church Health, we offer a variety of affordable yoga and other Creative Movement classes that are open to the public. For more information, logon to www.churchhealth.org.
This is Erica Perkins, Health Promotion Coordinator for Church Health.