More than ever, we need to learn how to slow down and take a deep breath because stress has become a chronic aspect of life for many.  Stress for long periods of time can wear our bodies out and weaken our immune system causing illness and fatigue. Many health problems are attributed to stress such as heart disease. Yes a little stress can keep us on our toes however in today’s world chronic stress has become more of the norm.

Yoga effects stress by enhancing the body’s natural functions. Certain yoga poses, such as inversions help to stimulate glands in the brain (Pituitary, Pineal). Moving into the ALPHA state is very important. The alpha state is considered the ideal waking state, where we reach the pinnacle of our creative thought process while the body is in a healing cycle. Alpha state is often attained during savasana; final resting pose in yoga practice. Yoga’s smooth, deep, symmetrical breathing, twists, stretches and balancing postures help to enhance the body’s natural functions, keeping the spine, house of the nervous system supple, enhancing flow of fluids in the spine and stimulating glands and circulation of blood and lymph throughout the rest of the body. Muscles are lengthened and toxins are released. Pranayam (breath exercises) and poses such as cat where we roll along the spine with breath can help to flush and clear the lung tissue.

Yoga innately helps us to create balance; to know our bodies, to recognize when we are not balanced both on and off of the mat. On a purely physical level hatha yoga creates strength, flexibility, grace. Part of Yoga’s philosophy is to take the approach of strengthening and healing the body in the process of healing and cleansing the mind. Yoga views the body as having many layers. Asana (physical yoga postures) affect the body but also these deeper layers, en route to creating a whole, balanced self. Hatha yoga practice creates unobstructed energy flow. Through yoga practice we begin to find a sense of wholeness. We become more aware. We create balance in our bodies, in our minds, in our lives.

In fact yoga is fantastic for building arm strength. Of course you may never see your biceps bulge through your T-shirt sleeves but then most women just want toned arms and not looking to build large arm muscles.  The following video is a great example of using yoga for arms.

Some basic Calisthenics such as Push-ups, the Plank and the Dive-bombers borrow heavily from Yoga. If someone is wanting to increase strength in the arms through Yoga, then the best exercises to focus on would be the Sun Salutations.

The following yoga breathing technique can lower your blood pressure, curb stress, and bring balance to both sides of your brain.

The yoga breathing technique is called Nadi Shodhana Pranayama and translates to “channel cleaning.” Try this yoga breathing technique out and let the layers of stress and anxiety peel away from your body!

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Most consumers don’t realize though that for the bodybuilder it takes a very strict regimen of workouts and eating lots of protein with little or no fat to have the bodies that they show off in competitions.  People that want to maintain muscle mass or add a little tone or muscle strength can get this through using simple free weights. Alternate your strength training with some yoga or stretching exercises. If you do strength training and alternate your workout with yoga then there is little risk of bulking up too much.

You can gradually increase the weights as you work out over a period of time. Be careful though of not using too much weight at once because it easy to sprain a muscle and hurt yourself. Start out with a smaller weight such as five or ten pounds and after a few repetitions move up to the next level.

Another great thing about using yoga to chase away the blahs is that it doesn’t take near as much effort to do a yoga routine as it would be to do a workout to a video or drive to a gym. Remember though if you experience more than an occasional bout of the blahs or feel down for more than two weeks at a time then it is advised to always seek professional help. Exercise is great but you don’t want to start any sort of exercise program or do any diet changes without first consulting with your doctor.

People that get depressed frequently have a difficult time disconnecting themselves from their problems. Yoga is a form of meditation in movement and allows you to move your mind away from the depressing thoughts. Yoga’s focus on balance can also help you bring back your mental strength.

Yoga has a clear-cut connection between mind, body, and spirit that no other form of exercise or meditation can attain on its own.  Negative thoughts can keep us from experiencing our vital inner nature.  Doubt, hopelessness, despair, apathy and either sleeping too much or not enough are all signs of depression.  Yoga is designed to bring you closer to your inner self; it then is only natural that it can help with some of the symptoms of depression.

Certain postures can influence your mood and allow depression to end.  One special Asana can’t cure depression or the blahs.  The Asanas assist in increasing your lung capacity allowing more oxygen to reach all the affected parts of your body including your mood.  Asana postures can help depleted energy levels, and sluggishness.  You should ask your Yoga instructor to help you and suggest postures that would best assist you balance your moods.

The practice of yoga calms the nervous system, and allows you to comprehend the link between your mind and emotions. They can both be used to help each other.  As breathing is an important part of Yoga, it can also help you to limit anxiety, calm your thoughts, and help you concentrate on positive energy rather than negative.

Any style of Yoga can help you exile the blahs.  Even though the practice of yoga may not necessarily be physically demanding, you will still find that at the end of each session that you will feel so much better. Always be sure to consult with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine or changes in your diet. And if you are considering starting a yoga routine specifically to treat your depression, then find a teacher who can set up a personal routine just for you. Yoga teachers are usually trained to know which positions are specifically for that purpose.

How do you get healthy with yoga?

By adding yoga regularly to your daily routine as well as exercising and watching your diet, you may find that it will help with weight loss as well as weight maintenance. If you are having any lower back problems, then yoga can improve the range of motion in your hips to help reduce lower back pain. Studies have shown that yoga can increase lower back flexibility and decrease lower back pain. Keep in mind though that you should always see your physician if you are experiencing any persistent back pain prior to starting any exercise program such as yoga.

And if you are experiencing problems with insomnia then a daily routine of yoga practice of meditation and breathing can help to calm your body and mind. Yoga breathing technique helps to lower your heart rate and calm your nervous system before retiring at night.

Just practicing yoga for an hour just three times a week can make your heart healthier. A study was done that showed men and women who practiced yoga also improved their blood pressure. Yes you can get healthy with yoga so why not start today.