Benefits of Yoga

Regular practice of asanas, pranayama (controlled breathing) and relaxation will help in many ways:

Physical

• your body will gradually become more toned and stronger.
• you will become more flexible. This will lessen and gradually eliminate aches and pains.
• you will notice that you have more energy.
• your posture will improve, due both the physical aspects of yoga and also to the more positive attitude you will develop.
• you will find weight control easier. This is because you will feel calmer and will eat more slowly. Also, with the growing awareness of the mind and body, you will hear when your body says ‘enough’!
• Your balance will improve.
• Research has shown that yoga can help reduce high blood pressure and hypertension.

Mental

• You will find, as you keep practicing, that you will approach stressful situations more easily.
• This calmness will in turn benefit your physical body. That tightness across the shoulders and neck will lessen.
• You will become more positive in your outlook.
• Yoga teaches you to focus on the breath when you are in a posture. This calms the mind and lets you live in the moment. You will soon take this habit into life – into the dentist’s chair or when things aren’t going as you had hoped.