Yoga is an ancient disciplined Hindu practice that encompasses eight limbs:

• yama (abstinences)

• niyama (observances)

• asana (yoga postures)

• pranayama (breath control)

• pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses)

• dharana (concentration)

• dhyana (meditation)

• samadhi (absorption)

The asanas or the exercise routine that focuses on breathing, posture, and mindfulness is only one aspect, but the most well known in the western world. The practice of yoga was initially founded in ancient India and is a part of Hindu religious practices. It has grown in popularity and is now practiced by a large population of people searching for health and mental peace all over the world.

One of the main goals of practicing yoga is to attain “moksha,” which means “liberation.” According to many yoga gurus, there are five main goals or elements of yoga. These five main elements are:

• Being disciplined & committed toward attaining a goal

• Being deliberate your body movements

• Being deliberate in your thoughts

• Connecting with your spiritual self

• Attaining the highest level of self-awareness

Yoga provides a lot of health benefits for both our body and mind. Here are just a few of them.

1.     It improves your body’s flexibility.

Yoga can help improve your range of motion and agility, especially with regular practice. This flexibility can help prevent injuries or strain and help relieve muscle and nerve pain.

2.     It helps build muscle strength.

With regular practice, yoga can also help build muscle strength and tone. This strengthening of our muscles can also help protect us against pain, age-related muscle loss, and various other diseases like arthritis for example.

3.     It improves your posture.

Yoga can help improve your posture, preventing backaches and neck pains and strain. Young yoga practitioners have also reported an increase in height due to the improvement in their posture. An aligned spine can balance your whole body much more easily than a chronic hunch. Poor posture can cause your body to strain and cause you to feel depleted and tired. It also puts you at higher risk for degenerative arthritis of the spine.

4.     It improves the overall health of your bones.

Yoga can help improve your bone strength and health and prevent breaks or fractures. Any weight bearing exercise is a great way to build bone strength and stave off osteoporosis. Yoga is great because you get the benefits with very low impact to the joints.

5.     It regulates the circulation of your blood flow.

Regular yoga practice can help improve the circulation of your blood flow, especially in your feet and hands. This prevents your extremeties from swelling or becoming inflamed. A healthy and regulated flow of blood in your body encourages overall better health. It also helps provide oxygen to your lungs and regulate the transfer of oxygen to your tissues by boosting the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin in your body. All of this can help reduce your risk of stroke and other forms of heart disease and illnesses.

6.     It lowers stress levels.

Yoga brings you mental peace by helping you manage your stress levels through relaxation, deep breathing exercises, and practiced mindfulness.

7.     It helps maintain your blood pressure.

Regular yoga practice has been found to be very beneficial in maintaining your body’s blood pressure or even helping to lower a high blood pressure. Via the stress reduction pathways, the increased circulation and decreased inflammation, this all has a positive effect on your blood pressure.

8.     It helps in regulating your adrenal glands.

Yoga can help lower your cortisol levels, helping to regulate the functioning of your adrenal glands. Healthy adrenal glands can help you in losing weight and maintaining overall health.

This is just a general introduction to get you to consider if yoga might be for you. Have you been knowing you need to exercise but have no motivation? Are you nursing an injury? Yoga can be a great way to get some very nurturing & healing form of exercise into your daily life.

I hope this little burb inspires you to implement a more nurturing practice into your day and autumn season. Remember, it’s not about being perfect, it’s just about much we can stay in alignment. I am here for you, just a message or email away. Reach out with your questions. Sign up for a clarity call. Together we will discuss your healing journey, and make an action plan to get you to your goal.

Namaste,

-   Dr. Lara

P.S.

Don’t forget! Join me on my Facebook page,  as well as Instagram & Twitter @drlaramay for lots of inspiration, notifications about upcoming programs and more.

PSS be sure to tune in to my podcast on your favorite platform, Amazon Music iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean or Anchor.Fm @Light Body Radio to get all the juicy info coming your way in an easily digestible format. I look forward to hearing your feedback, comments, and suggestions.

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