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When trying to stay healthy and transform your body you must first have the mental stability and motivation to persist. Finding balance between mind and body will benefit you outside the gym as well.
Looking for a perfect solution to stay balanced and motivated is not as hard as you may think. The perfect solution may be Yoga. Yoga is great because it’s not difficult to learn and no matter what age you are anyone can pick it up very easily. Yoga requires no special equipment and is not taxing on your body. It’s easy on the joints and integrates various stretching movements that will strengthen your mind, body, while raising your cardiovascular level.
According to ivillage.com it is estimated that today approximately 15 million Americans participate in Yoga and that this number was roughly only about seven million five years ago.
With a look at these staggering numbers it’s not hard to become curious as to why this form of exercise is catching on so rapidly.
Yoga has often been thought of as a form of mental and physical exercise only performed by women, however more and more men (even the most advanced of weight lifters) are attempting to understand the health benefits Yoga can have on the mind and body.
According to a poll conducted by yogajournal.com here is why many men say they’re more reluctant to do yoga than women?
- Not good enough of a workout. 31%
- Not interested in the non competitive aspects. 25%
- Fear embarrassment. 34%
- Unaware of its health and healing benefits. 10%
1,477 votes cast.”
Judging by that poll it would seem that the biggest fear men have when considering Yoga is embarrassment. It may be due to the belief that Yoga is more of a feminine form of exercise, however a closer and more in-depth look into this ancient exercise and it’s not hard to see that Yoga is far from being anywhere near “feminine”.
Yoga has been around for more than 3,000 years originating in India and is considered to be an ancient discipline that brings the mind, spirit and body together as one. Not only is Yoga considered to be exercise but it’s also a form of meditation that supports claims of overall enhancement in concentration that relaxes the inner spirit. Many people consider Yoga to be the greatest reliever of stress available.
Participating in Yoga is something that can be done in a class with other participants or by yourself. You will find that with the huge popularity of this ancient exercise many fitness centers will offer weekly classes that you can sign up for. Yoga possess several different variations in style of movement ranging from slow and gentle to very faced paced and aggressive.
When participating in Yoga you will practice deep breathing and various positions that will help to clear your mind while exercising the body. When full concentration is put forth towards the breathing and movements the mind seems to let all stresses slip away, and helps to cleanse the body of toxins because of the deep eccentric breathing exercises.
Regardless of your goal, Yoga is perfect to help anyone lose weight, increase muscularity, improve strength, flexibility, and eliminate stress.
If Yoga is something you are seriously considering it may be wise to first consult a personal trainer or Yoga instructor for advice on availability of classes, and a breakdown of what level of Yoga will best suit your needs and fitness level. Enjoying the benefits that Yoga can have on the body and spirit is something we should all be interested in. |
