Fit For Health

A Health and Fitness Magazine

YOGA

YOGA – A BRIEF OVERVIEW

When individuals want to optimize wellness, they tend to look to two things: diet and exercise. And while diet can play a primary role in helping an individual attain great health, exercise must also be an integral aspect of any program designed to enhance wellness. Although there are several fun, challenging physical activities an individual could participate in for the purpose of maximizing wellness, yoga can be particularly beneficial. By learning more about yoga, you can decide if it is the type of physical activity you wish to engage in.

Yoga-The Basics

Although broadly defined, yoga is basically a series of breathing exercises and postures that are done to attain control over the mind and body. The ultimate aim is generally to induce feelings of tranquility while also enabling individuals to develop the physical health and slender physique that they desire.

Yoga Exercises

As yoga experts know, there are a wide variety of yoga exercises one can do to enhance physical fitness. Some of them involve balancing the arms while others emphasize backbends. Forward bends are also prevalent, as are core exercises designed to strengthen the abdominal muscles. Some yoga poses are meditative and designed to induce a calm, thoughtful mood that results in a positive cognitive state.

Breathing Exercises

In addition to exercises involving the arms and legs, yoga can involve breathing exercises. These exercises are designed to promote feelings of peace and mental clarity. One such exercise might include several minutes of breathing through one’s diaphragm followed by gently and intentionally extending each of one’s exhalations.

Embracing Holistic Wellness

Many individuals who practice yoga note that one of the core elements of the philosophy behind it is holistic health. This fact becomes plain upon consideration of the fact that the exercises are designed to enhance the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of one’s being. To make this happen, individuals interested in doing yoga for the purpose of enhancing wellness should consider monitoring the foods they eat. Diets high in fresh fruits and vegetables can ensure that one attains the vitamins and minerals capable of enhancing health and making physical exercise fun and fulfilling.

Conclusion

Although there are a variety of exercises an individual can do in order to maximize wellness, yoga can be a particularly efficacious one to try. If you have not done this type of physical activity before, consider working with a trained fitness instructor who can teach you how to do the movements properly. Good luck!

Daisy Mae Cooper: Daisy, a yoga instructor, provides yoga routines, tips for mindfulness, and strategies to bring more peace and balance into everyday life.