It is often asked by a curious person that besides flexibility, what else can one hope to gain from practicing Yoga? There are several benefits and what?s more they include not only the body, but the mind and spirit.

The word yoga, from the Sanskrit word yuj means to yoke or bind and is often interpreted as "union" or a method of discipline. Its ultimate goal is the union of man with God or the universe in one breath. Furthermore, it aims to liberate the spirit as the mind and spirit are equally involved in its practice.

Practitioners of yoga speak of a unification of the body, mind and spirit achieved through the practice of yoga exercises and breathing techniques. But, of course, that is a bit difficult to test scientifically.

Yoga is indeed the oldest existing physical-culture system in the world. Besides being a systematic and scientifically proven path to attaining physical fitness, it delays ageing, rejuvenates and improves appearance, maintains suppleness and increases vitality and the creative part of life.

Many doctors consider yoga to have therapeutic results, and recommend it for several illnesses and conditions, mainly related to the nervous system.

From the physiological point of view, extended yoga practice can benefit:- pulse rate- respiratory problems- blood pressure dysfunctions- help stabilize the nervous system- gastrointestinal functions- endocrine function- the range of motion in joints- endurance- energy level- immunity to diseases- cardiovascular efficiency- improve eye-hand coordination- reaction time- dexterity- depth perception- sleep- etc.

The truth is Exercise (yoga, calisthenics, etc), besides aiding the body in its daily detoxifying duties of weight control and removal of disease, increases ones efficiency for, perhaps, less strenuous activities that one has to do.

Aside from making you feel and look better, relaxed and poised, exercise aids you to become more adequate for the demands you place on your body. Furthermore a well-trained body equates to a well trained mind.

However Yoga differs from other physical cultures in that it

1. Broadens mental faculties.

2. Leads to Acquisition of Control of involuntary muscles and organs in the body.

3. Opposes violent muscular motions as they produce large amounts of lactic acids in the fibers.

4. Is the oldest and perhaps the best for developing the metaphysical.

5. It speeds up elimination of Toxins

Stretching the muscles and performing a complete yoga workout acts as a massage, thereby ensuring the optimal blood supply to every organ.

All of this and many more lie in the dedicated practice of yoga so the next move should be starting it my friend.

Here?s to Health and Wellness.

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