27 Aug Why Yoga!
Hello Everyone! Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alice Riccardi and I am a 500 Hour Baptiste Certified Yoga teacher and I am teaching yoga at BarSculpt. I have been practicing yoga for 15 years and teaching for 13.
I’d like to share with you the ways yoga benefits both body and mind as a reminder for those times when you may think, “should I or shouldn’t I go to yoga class?”
Immediately after class:
IMPROVED BRAIN FUNCTION. Just 20 minutes of yoga can improve cognitive function…immediately!
LOWER STRESS LEVELS. One of yoga’s stress busting powers come from its ability to lessen the activity of proteins that play a role in inflammation. That combined with conditioning the nervous system is a one two punch for reducing stress.
INCREASED FLEXIBILITY. A strong vigorous practice in a room with slight heat is linked to increased flexibility of shoulders, hamstrings, as well as greater dead lift strength and decreased body fat.
After a few months:
LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE. If you have mild or moderate hypertension you may benefit from yoga practice to lower your blood pressure. Researchers found that people who practiced yoga had greater drops in blood pressure compared with those who participated in a walking/nutrition/weight counseling programs.
IMPROVED SEXUAL FUNCTION. Yoga can boost arousal, desire, orgasm and general sexual satisfaction for both men and women.
ANXIETY RELIEF. Yoga can help to reduce anxiety and increase GABA levels in the brain. (Low levels of GABA have been linked to depression and anxiety disorders).
After years:
STRONGER BONES. Practicing yoga can increase bone density among older adults.
HEALTHY WEIGHT. Researchers have found an association between a regular yoga practice and decreased weight or at least maintained weight among middle age adults.
LOWER RISK OF HEART DISEASE. As part of a healthy lifestyle, yoga may lower cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar.
WOW! No wonder I feel so good! When I asked my husband what he observed in regard to how I benefitted from my yoga practice he said I am much calmer and less reactive now than I was before I started practicing yoga. Come to think of it, years ago, if he had said something like that to me, I would have felt the need to defend myself and give a reason for my behavior. Hmmmmm… I guess yoga really does work. But don’t take my word for it, come and take class and try it out for yourself. 3 times a week, change your body, 5 times a week, change your life!
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