Yoga….A Good Stress Reliever!

I’ll admit yoga is not my favorite cup of tea.  I do know it is good for you and I need to think outside the box, and broaden my horizons so maybe by seeing the words in front of me will help me? We shall see.

Did you know that yoga relieves lower back pain and hand osteoarthritis? It is also a good remedy for stress and depression. Helps to improve digestion. Aids in weight loss. Reduces effects of carpal tunnel syndrome. Helps to control hypertension and diabetes. It can also aid in lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, all of which are good for you heart and blood vessels. Practicing yoga a couple of times a week increases muscle strength and flexibility. Yoga poses work by stretching your muscles. They can help you move better and feel less stiff and tired. At any level of yoga you will probably start to notice benefits soon. In one study people improved their flexibility up to 35% after only 8 weeks of yoga. Many of the poses, such as downward dog, upward dog, and the plank pose, build upper body strength. The standing poses, especially if you hold them for several long breaths, build strength in your hamstrings,

quadriceps, and abs. Poses that strengthen the lower back include upward dog and the chair pose. When done right, nearly all poses build core strength in the deep abdominal muscles.