What was once a spiritual Hindu practice has now become mainstream. Yoga! You see the word everywhere these days; hear it in the office and at the gym. It seems nearly everywhere you go someone is toting a yoga mat over his shoulder and hurrying off to another yoga class. But yoga is more than some craze. Stefanie DiLibero is founder of Gotham Wellness, a New York City-based company that takes a 360-degree approach to health and wellness. As part of the wellness regiment that includes lifestyle training, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, DiLibero also instructs yoga classes for all levels. DiLibero encourages everyone to at least try yoga once or twice before writing it off. She asserts that the benefits of yoga are numerous and tremendous and that the practice goes beyond traditional exercise in scope. Below she outlines the many positives of a yoga regiment.
It is strange and wonderful that the practice of yoga has gotten so big in the United States, and even around the world for that matter. Some 15 years ago, yoga was an obscure practice in the west, relegated to devotees of Indian and far eastern cultures. Sure, places were sprouting up where you could take a class here and there, but all in all it was nothing like you see today. Today yoga is a respected and almost conventional form of exercise. You no longer need to go to some kind of yoga center to take a class; nearly every gym or wellness center I know offers some form of the practice. The truth is we’re all better off for it, because yoga is one of the best things you do. I know of no other form of exercise that so soundly combines mind, body and spirit. But, if you’re still a non-believer, I’ve outlined a few of yoga’s benefits. Read them, think and little and then get off the couch and go take a class.
- Muscle toning and strengthening – This one usually sells all the gym rats. Yoga actually allows muscles that become weak to tone and lose excess fats. A good stretch can stimulate and tone a muscle you never knew you had.
- Full internal massage – Yoga actually impacts every single organ in your body. Every internal part of you gets a full massage during a well-rounded yoga session. This strengthens your insides and ultimately keeps away diseases. Plus, you now uncannily aware of every part of your body. This heightened awareness allows you to detect problems and illness, so you can take preemptive action right away.
- Detoxification – When you stretch out all your muscles and joints, you allow for heightened blood flow and ensure that blood supply reaches every part of you. This in turn rids the body of toxins from even the hardest to reach places. In turn, this leads to great benefits, like terrific energy increases, slower aging and all around sense of well-being.
- Flexibility – Obviously, yoga is all about stretching and holding various, often difficult, positions. You have a wealth of joints that you probably never even knew existed. Yoga will stretch these joints, giving you increased flexibility.
- Mind body harmony – There is no doubt that the mind body connection has been proven thanks to yoga. The mental effects of yoga are cumulative and will extend far into the reaches of your everyday life. Mind and body will harmonize with prolonged yoga practice, leaving you feeling better all around.
- Joint lubrication – Yoga will exercise and lubricate so many of your joints, ligaments and tendons that you will feel loose and limber all over.
Beyond these physical benefits, yoga strengthens you emotionally in ways no other form of exercise can. Rather, many of yoga’s effects are more similar to those of meditation than general exercise. As we mentioned before, yoga strengthens the harmony between mind and body. This in turn alleviates stress, allowing you to function in a calmer and more composed manner. Stress is the number-one inhibitor allowing us to succeed in our daily activities and struggles. Thus yoga’s inherent core benefit is its ability to eradicate stress from our lives. With regular yoga, you’ll think better, feel better and ultimately do more as you strengthen your mental physical connection.
No doubt, yoga is truly amazing in its cumulative and varied affects on your day-to-day life. Sure you could benefit from trying any new form of exercise. But can you really afford not to try something that could potentially give you all the aforementioned benefits. So stop delaying, get up and get to a yoga class today.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
