Yoga is gaining in popularity. Go to just about any health club in the nation or any town and you will find a variety of yoga classes or yoga centers cropping up. I believe this is a very good trend.
Yoga is an ancient art that is every bit as much for your mind as your body. It may just be the latest exercise "fad" for many of the easily bored, need something new, exercise crowd. I hope not. I hope it has staying power.
I practiced yoga in the early 70s as a complement to my martial arts training. I believe it really helped me improve my focus and achieve my goals. I still incorporate some of the stretching maneuvers and breathing techniques that I learned.
Yoga can benefit just about anyone. It can complement just about any workout routine. It can provide the missing ingredients in most individual's workout routines and/or sports activities.
On the physical side, yoga improves flexibility, agility, balance, and core strength. Certain forms of yoga also will improve overall strength, including upper and lower body strength. This is all accomplished in a low-impact, frame-friendly environment. Breathing and respiratory function also are enhanced.
On the mental side, yoga scores big. It is a moving form of meditation that triggers your body's relaxation response and lowers stress levels.
I applaud individuals who commit to just about any exercise routine, but I also find many whose routines are not balanced and/or are quite pounding and punishing to the body. Incorporating yoga into your weekly routines can bring things into balance by providing the often neglected stretching and flexibility. It also allows for overall systemic metabolic recovery for your body. For others, exercise and a constant quest for ultimate fitness can be very stressful -- yoga can help melt stress away as a natural stress-buster.
As an orthopedic surgeon, I also have become very interested in yoga's beneficial effects for the musculoskeletal system -- your muscles, bones, and joints. More on that in my next blog entry...
In the meantime, do you think yoga is just a passing fad? Or is it here to stay? Has yoga helped you in any way? Have you ever gotten hurt (some do) in a yoga class? Share your stories with us.
