| In general, yoga is a very safe form of exercise for | | | | of natural painkillers in the body. Breathing exercises |
| most people. For those with specific back conditions, it | | | | used in yoga can also reduce pain. Yoga has |
| is advisable to speak with one's treating physician prior | | | | consistently been used to cure and prevent back pain |
| to starting yoga. | | | | by enhancing strength and flexibility. Both acute and |
| Yoga is an ancient practice that helps create a sense | | | | long-term stress can lead to muscle tension and |
| of union in body, mind, and spirit. The most important | | | | exacerbate back problems. |
| benefit of yoga is physical and mental therapy. The | | | | Biochemical Benefits of Yoga |
| aging process, which is largely an artificial condition, | | | | Biochemical benefits of Yoga are as follows: |
| caused mainly by autointoxication or self-poisoning, can | | | | 1. Sodium decreases. |
| be slowed down by practicing yoga. Although yoga | | | | 2. Triglycerides decrease. |
| has been shown to be beneficial in a variety of | | | | 3. Cholinesterase increases. |
| conditions, it is not considered a therapy for specific | | | | 4. Hemoglobin increases. |
| illnesses. Yoga also strives to increase self-awareness | | | | 5. Total white blood cell count decreases. |
| on both a physical and psychological level. This allows | | | | 6. Thyroxin increases. |
| people to take early collective action, such as adjusting | | | | 7. Vitamin C increases. |
| posture, when discomfort is first noticed. Practicing | | | | Exercise Benefits of Yoga: |
| yoga can provide chronic pain sufferers with useful | | | | 1. Rapid forceful movements. |
| tools to actively cope with their pain and help counter | | | | 2. Increased muscle tension. |
| feelings of helplessness and depression. Laboratory | | | | 3. Moderate to high caloric consumption. |
| tests have proved the yogi's increased abilities of | | | | 4. Fatiguing. |
| consciously controlling autonomic or involuntary | | | | 5. Imbalance activity of opposing groups. |
| functions, such as temperature, heartbeat and blood | | | | 6. Boredom factor. |
| pressure. Patients who practice yoga have a better | | | | Physiological Benefits of Yoga |
| chance of gaining the ability to control their breathing | | | | Some of the Physiological benefits of Yoga are as |
| problems. | | | | follows: |
| Yoga is dynamite to make you feel younger with | | | | 1. Pulse rate decreases. |
| heightened mental prowness. Longer life often result | | | | 2. Cardiovascular efficiency increases. |
| from following yogic ways of health maintenance. | | | | 3. Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion |
| Yoga is approximately 4,000 years old and is a | | | | increase. |
| scientific methodology aimed at uniting the mind, body, | | | | 4. Posture improves. |
| and spirit. Yoga is believed to reduce pain by helping | | | | 5. Strength and resiliency increase. |
| the brain's pain center regulate the gate-controlling | | | | 6. Immunity increases. |
| mechanism located in the spinal cord and the secretion | | | | 7. Pain decreases. |