Yoga and its benefits

Believe it or not, Yoga has been practiced for more than 5,000 years, and currently, 11 million Americans enjoy its health benefits. A technique for prevention, cure, healing and focus, Yoga involve “asanas” which enables you to develop flexibility, strength and balance and therefore a healthy body and mind. 
Here are some benefits of Yoga and the areas that you can benefit from it. 

Yoga and Flexibility: Why the first 2 days are the most difficult

Yoga do not preach or inculcate in you a gymnastic spirit. The popular notion about Yoga is that one needs to stretch and swing their body a lot which makes a lot of us worry about whether we are too old or unfit or “rigid” for it. Truth is, no age is too old to improve ones flexibility.
Yoga works through asanas which in turn work by stretching your muscles. When your muscles work more than usual, it produces lactic acid in them which accounts for the stiffness and fatigue- a reason why most of us do not carry on with Yoga. What one should understand is this is also the phase when lubrication in the joints are increased- the outcome is a sense of ease and fluidity throughout the body!
Yoga also stretches the soft tissues of your body that surrounds your muscle- participants had up to 35% improvement in flexibility after only eight weeks of yoga. Live through the first 2 days and the benefits would be quick! 

Yoga and Strength: Yes it makes you stronger

If you are looking at strengthening your body, ashtanga and power yoga are your best bet as they are more vigorous than others and involves a lot of muscle movements. If you are looking at something more toned down with regards to the intensity of exercises, Iyengar is a good style to opt for. A Yoga style that focuses on less movement and more precise alignment in poses, Iyengar or Hatha Yoga provide strength and endurance benefits and when practiced correctly, build core strength in the deep abdominal muscles. 

Yoga means concentration, relaxation and calm

We all suffer from “mind chatter” that can terribly affect our concentration. Certain styles of Yoga use specific meditation techniques that quiet the constant “mind chatter”. A condition arising out of dissatisfaction and stress, Yoga for concentration helps you calm your mind by reducing stress. Acting on biochemical responses, Yoga lowers the levels of hormone neurotransmitters — dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, thereby creating a feeling of calm. Some research also points to a boost in the hormone oxytocin- the so-called “trust” and “bonding” hormone that’s associated with feeling relaxed and connected to others

Yoga and the Heart

Perhaps one of the most talked about areas of the health benefits of yoga is its effect on heart and heart disease. A technique long been known to lower blood pressure; you’ll be surprised to know that Yoga was a key component to the heart disease program designed by Dean Ornish, MD. The first of its kind to partly reverse heart disease through lifestyle and diet rather than surgery; on a biochemical level, several studies suggests a possible anti-oxidant effect of yoga that decreases cholesteroland triglyceride levels. Other than the aforementioned, Yoga is also said to have a positive effect on learning and memory, slow the aging process, increase a person’s sense of self-acceptance, and improve energy levels. While gymming will involve a lifetime of gymming equipments, one can practice Yoga anywhere- but make sure you are well trained by your trainer to do so or the effects could be pretty adverse.

© Text: Healthy Times Blog.

5 Surprising Ways to Beat Stress

 

We all know stress is bad. Research is continually uncovering new ways that stress can negatively impact our physical health, emotional health, and even physical appearance. Excessive and prolonged stress is strongly associated with increased vulnerability to ailments ranging from the common cold and flu to insomnia, depression and anxiety, inflammatory illnesses, and heart disease to name a few. In addition, those experiencing stresses that do develop serious illness such as cancer, kidney disease or lung disease typically do not respond as well to treatments and often have longer or more complicated recoveries and an overall more negative prognosis.
With all of these potential negative consequences, it’s important to always try to find new ways to battle stress. Here are some easy and surprising things to add to your arsenal in the battle against stress. 

Wash Your Troubles Away: Researchers have discovered that you can actually wash away negative feelings and negative thoughts, like post-decision doubt, remorse, and guilt, by taking a shower or bathing after an event or experience that causes these kinds of thoughts and feelings. Researchers caution, though, that washing and bathing can also reduce the pleasant effects of a positive experience, not just negatives.

Eat Chocolate: New research has shown that eating around an ounce and half of dark chocolate daily for at least two weeks can decrease levels of damaging stress hormones.

Beautify and Find a Mate for Better Health: Think about treating yourself to a new hairstyle, perfume, or outfit that will help you feel more attractive and focused on finding a mate. A growing body of research indicates that being in a committed relationship has numerous health benefits. Going from a single to a couple can decrease your vulnerability to the detrimental effects of stress. When faced with a stressor, singles are likely to produce higher levels of damaging stress hormones like cortisol.

Don’t Stress Over Stress: New research has suggested that the effect of stress is not always negative. Chronic, prolonged stress has been shown to have a clear detrimental effect on memory. However, researchers have now uncovered that more acute stress or short-lived stressful incidents can actually enhance memory.

Be Creative: Creative activities can be very beneficial in the management of stress, particularly stressors associated with chronic and enduring issues such as coping with physical illness, a demanding job, or troublesome relationships. Specifics benefits can include a decrease in uncomfortable physical symptoms, decreased stress and anxiety, and improvement in depressive symptoms.

© Text: blog.doctoroz.com