Many looks at Yoga and think “is this really something I can do?” They see twisted figures and conclude they can’t perform the moves. However, Yoga for beginners includes poses where you can start off slow and work your way up to a comfortable regimen.
The philosophy of Yoga is to balance the body and mind and establish stability and relaxation. It helps you become more sensitive and body conscious and rediscover what your body yearns for. Yoga releases tension and improves blood flow which will rejuvenate your appearance by delivering oxygen and regenerating cells.
The Benefits of Yoga
With yoga’s slow movement sequences, it’s a popular treatment for age and arthritis. Patients often decrease activity, which can result in muscle or tendon shortening, and weakened ligaments, but according to clinical studies, the gentle stretching movements offer great benefits for arthritis patients, including rheumatoid and osteoarthritis.
The US Center for Disease Control recommends at least two days of muscle strengthening activities, such as yoga, per week. The center also emphasizes that the most effective routines should work all muscle groups. Yoga works by activating in a static way and strengthening each area of the body, including the knees and legs.
There is no specific limit to the types of yoga that a person with arthritis can or cannot perform. Everyone should listen to their own body, and if a posture or a movement is painful or uncomfortable, don’t do it.
When you perform postures on the ground, use a knee block to support them. Start with easy postures and gradually continue to more challenging postures for several weeks or months. Never force a pose, and if your knees are particularly sore one day, take a rest until you feel better.
Why Yoga Works
Yoga uses a combination of stretching and bodyweight exercises. Experts point out regular physical activity can improve joint mobility and function, reduce pain and decrease the progress of arthritis. Strengthening the muscles around the knees, including the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves and other leg muscles can help you maintain mobility and reduce pain.
The Weapon Against Stress and Inflammation
It is essential, today more than ever, to limit chronic inflammatory responses in the body. Recent studies at Ohio State University, conducted on over 200 women conclude that Yoga significantly decreased cytokines molecules, which signal the presence of inflammation. Based on the results, doctors find that Yoga helps increase overall vitality by reducing the body’s response to stress, while diminishing inflammation. And the benefits are long-term.
Even more, research has also found that women with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy, who practiced yoga had an improvement in the quality of life with an increase in physical strength, and a decrease in fatigue.
Given the close relationship between fatigue, stress, inflammation and other chronic diseases, it appears yoga can be a big benefit to everyone. It has been proven that practicing yoga regularly not only prevents but also helps to tackle and fight diseases with high levels of disability and mortality.