by meagan posted on 05/06/2008 11:55 AM Tags: None
Have you ever noticed that when you are happy you feel more beautiful? And what makes a person happy? Well, if I had the absolute answer to that I'd be a wealthy woman. It can be a combination of factors but one factor is being stress-free. Being rested. Being at peace. Our busy lives don't always leave us feeling this way but there is a way to achieve that sense of inner peace and therefore increase our outer beauty: Yoga. I've been practicing yoga casually for nearly two years and while I still can not touch my toes (I blame my genetics) I do feel refreshed any time I do it. Yoga is our bodies natural way of being beautiful. What is one of the first things you do when you wake from a deep sleep? You stretch. You put your arms over your head and you make a weird squealing noise and then you go, "Ahhh." You are breathing and you are stretching and that is what you are doing with yoga. Your body craves yoga instinctually. And not only that, but there are actual internal health benefits to yoga that goes beyond the beautiful toning of your muscles. I just read in Shape magazine that Yale researchers have pronounced that "doing yoga regularly can be as effective as downing a prescription drug" for hypertension (high blood pressure). Heart disease is still one of the leading causes of death for men and women, so why not take preventive measures in your work out to combat that? Heart disease runs in my family and I am so thankful that my dad started doing yoga around the same time as I did. He still can't touch his toes either. But hopefully the benefits are extending past our flexibilty into the parts of our body we can't see. Happy, toned, beautiful. Just a few side effects from stretching and breathing.
If you can't find a good yoga class in your area, that is no excuse! Most cable providers have a "fit channel" now that you can tune into. Or check out your on-demand service. There is usually a fit channel hiding behind the ten million HBOs. Do a little digging and you can learn yoga at your own pace, in your own place. Check out the multitude of DVDs available too - you can find them at Target or Blockbuster or Barnes and Noble. They are very accessible. There are even online classes you can take. Check out New York Yoga for a good place to start. Or type "on demand yoga" into google and you'll see tons of options. You can also go to www.yoga.com for equipment, resources and more. Namaste.
I did yoga with a record when I was a teenager.(now there ya go, I'm old now) In a recent year, I did a yoga class and found the fish pose to be the only natural pose for me, lay flat on your tummy and lift your head. On the up side, I can touch my toes. Young and old, I've enjoyed yoga.
I tried yoga but my boyfriend makes fun of me! I felt a little silly like meditating. If it's so much about relaxtion then I guess it's better to do it alone.
If you're looking to lose weight, yoga is definitely not the way to go. hehe. If you want to try yoga out, I have a great suggestion. Try it out with a friend. It'll make the first time feel less uncomfortable since you will not be the only clumsy person in class. Just be careful of the giggles. Once it starts, you and your friend will surely be asked to leave (from personal experience). =P
i'm interested in trying yoga for the relaxation benefits, but i don't understand how you can stay in shape that way. it just seems too laid back! i guess i'm too used to running for exercise.
