| Yoga began
nearly 6,000 years ago in India as part of the Hindu healing science known
as Ayurveda. Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning "union". It is
a traditional practice that uses the body, breath, and the mind to
energize and balance the flow of energy within the whole person. This
mind-body therapy involves physical postures, breathing exercises, and
meditation to improve overall well-being.
Today, approximately six million
Americans practice yoga regularly, lending credibility to the exercise in
modern society. Yoga is often part of disease prevention and management
programs in hospitals, such as stress-reduction courses for people with
high blood pressures, elevated cholesterol and heart disease.
Scientists don't know exactly how yoga produces its
health-benefiting effects. Some say it works like mind-body therapies to
reduce stress, while others believe that yoga promotes the release of
the hormone called endorphins (endorphins are natural painkillers and mood elevators) from the brain.
Furthermore, studies have suggested that yoga may be
particularly effective at reducing the risk of heart disease.
It thus makes sense for us to understand Yoga. Below is
a quick summary of what Yoga is:
breathing, postures, and meditation.
- Breathing -- regular practice of yoga breathing
techniques increases blood
circulation and reduces oxygen consumption, brings more oxygen to
the brain, and improves the efficiency of oxygen uptake in the body.
Deep breathing also causes the lung tissue and surrounding muscles to
become more elastic and flexible, leading to increased lung capacity,
and short breathiness goes away over time. Besides, getting ample air into our lungs helps us to feel alert
and focused. Meanwhile, proper breathing expels carbon dioxide
from our body and reduces waste build up in the blood, which in turn reduces
undesirable chemical reactions on cholesterol molecules.
- Posture -- yoga workout enhances the strength and
flexibility of our body. Yoga postures are designed to massage the
internal organs, improve circulation, stimulate hormone function,
improve digestion, and other body processes. Stretching the body muscles
improves blood circulation to the heart and reduces the risk of cholesterol build up
in the arteries, thereby lowering the risk of coronary heart disease.
- Meditation -- or stilling of the mind, promotes
physical and emotional relaxation. Most people have
misconceptions about meditation, thinking it is a complicated art and
needs proper supervision. The truth is meditation is simple and safe.
Find a quiet room where you could be alone, then sit upright, maintain a
comfortable posture, close your eyes, and you must (this is probably the
toughest to do) clear your minds of all thoughts and events that
happened during the day. If any thoughts creep up, imagine putting them
in a balloon and let it float up up and away into the sky. Do this
simple exercise for 10 minutes daily and you would be joining the many
folks who have alleviated their high blood
pressure, chronic pain, anxiety and cholesterol conditions.
More tips to come...
Nancy
Disclaimer:
Any information given in this website should be confirmed by your
doctor. It should not be
construed as medical advice and should be substantiated by a health care
provider.
If ever in doubt, please
seek medical advice from your physician.
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