Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Improve Your Life With Beginning Yoga Exercises

American obesity has become a major problem facing a large majority of American citizens today. Beginner Yoga Exercises have become extremely popular in western society for improving health and losing weight. Integrating Yoga into your daily workout routine can help you keep a healthy and well balanced lifestyle. Allowing your body to change and grow for increased health benefits is the main attraction people have to Yoga.

The origins of Yoga are from India, but it has recently made its way to western cultures as a form of exercise. It was not only a form of exercise, but was considered even more so as a way to reach enlightenment. Hatha Yoga is the style that many use as an exercise routine, but there are many other styles out there.

All you need to start practicing Yoga is yourself and a good attitude. Make sure you wear some loose fit clothing that is comfortable and find a quiet location with no distractions. Investing in a yoga mat might be something to consider to make you more comfortable, especially if you are doing your workout on a hard surface.

Finding a good Yoga Sticky Mat is simple to do and inexpensive since they are available at most major outlets. Having the extra padding an exercise mat provides will be beneficial to your workout by protecting you from unwanted bruises or abrasions. The mat you get doesn't need to be very large at all and they are easily stored away when not in use. Sometimes a workout on hard floors might demand more cushion than the typical mat provides. If this is the case for you, then a good, quality option is the airex mat.

The benefits of yoga are great for anyone of all different ages. Increased flexibility will strengthen muscles and joints, which is the number one benefit that people associate with yoga. Yoga provides both physical and mental healing elements making it a great holistic treatment. Many under appreciate the meditation aspect of yoga which provides mental clarity and an increase in oxygen throughout the body.

Just a few of the physiological benefits from doing the asanas are:

- better flexibility and increased strength
- improved posture, coordination, and balance
- relief in joint and back pain
- improved immunity
- increased energy
- reduction in high blood pressure
- better gastrointestinal function


A few of the many psychological benefits from doing the pranayama are:

- increased self-actualization
- improved learning efficiency
- decreased depression
- decreased stress
- decreased anxiety
- improved sense of well-being
- improved memory


Yoga is a small part of the bigger picture to the path of uniting your body, mind, and spirit. Specific movements and breathing practices are used to achieve this objective. Getting a good workout all around for not only your body but your mind then there are some great Yoga positions for beginners.

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