The Benefits of Yoga for Everyone

Yoga is a discipline practiced for health and relaxation. It includes breath control, simple meditation and specific body postures. The term yoga, derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, means “to join” or “to yoke.” Yoga’s powerful techniques create a sense of inner peace, harmony and clarity of mind. Because it’s so versatile, yoga may be practiced by anyone including those that have excess body weight.

The benefits of yoga are far reaching. Yoga will increase your physical activity, relieve strain to different areas of the body, reduce stress because of the practiced breathing techniques and decrease the risk of injury by strengthening muscles.

A major benefit of yoga is to the joints. In yoga, you engage muscles to support the body creating less impact on bones and joints. Engaging muscles helps build tissue that can ease joint tension from excess weight. Stretching and lengthening muscles helps to maintain healthy joints, reducing your risk of injury. The heat that is generated from the strengthening may also help to detoxify pores and internal organs, helping to purge your body of toxins that may cause inflammation and disease.

Of course, along with yoga you should get plenty of rest and eat a healthy diet. All are vital parts of a successful weight-loss and maintenance program. Give yoga a try. All you have to lose is stress and flabby muscles.

By: Molly McBrayer, Clinical Manager, Roper St. Francis Bariatric and Metabolic Services