Photo By Olivier Lejade | Flickr

Over the last decade or so, Yoga has been pushed in our faces and touted as the holistic, cure-all and alternative to traditional exercise. Celebrities have endorsed it and people from all walks of life have sung its many praises. Many have become Yoga enthusiasts because they have personally witnessed its power, while others have simply chosen to jump on the bandwagon of what they thought may have been another “here today, gone tomorrow” fitness fad. The truth is, Yoga has existed for centuries and will continue to stand the test of time. Scientists of our generation have done extensive research to discover what ancient Yogis have known since the very beginning – that Yoga serves to unite the mind, body, and spirit, resulting in an improvement in one’s quality of life.

The Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is a system of physical and mental practices, including breathing techniques, meditation, and specific poses. Many people that use Yoga as their preferred method of exercise or physical activity, focus more on the postures and poses that work to strengthen the body and increase flexibility. Typically, these poses are taught with an emphasis on also incorporating the correct breathing techniques. Combining these two powerful aspects of Yoga creates many of the physiological, psychological, and biochemical benefits that Yoga is known for, including an elevation in mood, an enhanced sense of well-being, a reduction in stress levels, a regulation of blood pressure, a more efficient metabolism, an improvement in digestive function, an increase in overall body strength, better posture, and a sharpening of the mind.

Adding Yoga to Your Existing Routine

To constantly challenge and push our bodies to new levels of fitness, we need some form high-intensity, aerobic activity, in addition to a regular resistance training program.  Adding Yoga to this mix may be one of the best things you can do for yourself. It’s a great aid for managing your weight and staying motivated.  You can actually work-in some Yoga sessions during your “off” days of training. 

Try this Yoga Ball Strength Exercise. It is ideal for someone just getting into Yoga and for anyone convinced that Yoga is just a series of stretching exercises.  For more great Yoga videos, visit My Yoga Online.