Practicing Yoga for a Great Body
Yoga Will Improve Your Figure in Ways You Couldn’t Imagine
May 26, 2009
People decide to begin practicing yoga for many different reasons. Most of the time, though, they begin a yoga practice in the hopes of improving their physical fitness. While fitness is definitely one of the outcomes of a loyal yoga practice, you can expect so much more.
Practicing Yoga Creates Fantastic Muscle Tone
Try the original weight machine – the human body! A regular yoga practice tones your entire bodyHolding handstand will strengthen your arm muscles, Boat pose will encourage defined abs, and nothing creates rock-hard thighs quite like holding Warrior II pose.
A high-energy practice, such as Ashtanga yoga, will also keep your heart in tip-top shape. The constant movement, and attention to the rhythm of the breath, will have you sweating in no time. Some studies even suggest that a faithful yoga practice is even equivalent (for cardio-vascular health) to running three times a week. But you never have to worry about a rainy day when you practice yoga!
Yoga Improves Digestion and Metabolism
Yoga isn’t limited to aesthetic benefits. Hitting the mat regularly can actually improve the way your entire body functions.
One of the most notable examples of this is the stimulation of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is mainly responsible for your metabolism, so stabilizing it with certain yoga poses will do wonders for keeping you at a healthy weight.
Yoga also stimulates your digestive functions so that you don’t feel as bloated and gassy. Certain poses increase the flow of blood to your digestive system so that it can do its job better.
Yoga Inspires You to Eat Right
If you practice yoga long enough to become inspired by it, you’ll want to eat right because it helps your body function better. You’ll naturally gravitate towards healthy food choices, in moderate portions, because they simply make you feel good. You’ll also learn that a lighter, fitter body will help you move through the poses more effortlessly.
Yoga focuses on a mind-body connection, so your body will tell you what it needs, and you’ll be more inclined to give it. Your body isn’t likely to tell you that it needs high-sugar snacks, or foods that are full of saturated fat, because it isn’t optimal fuel. It’s almost like a partnership with yourself – your body tells your mind what it needs, and your mind happily delivers!
Practicing Yoga Instils Body Pride
As you become more comfortable in your skin, you’ll begin to realize how beautiful your body is in its uniqueness. No one’s legs are exactly the same, no one’s hips, or bust, or stomach. But a toned, fit, and - most importantly - happy you doesn’t care.
You may find that you have great upper-arm strength, or you may become more lean and long. Just as long as you learn to be happy in your own skin, you’ll appreciate your body for whatever form it is.
You’ll learn to appreciate your body for what it is, without feeling the need to conform to someone else’s ideal.
As with anything, you’ll only get out of a yoga practice what you put into it. If you’re merely flirting with the idea of yoga, you may not notice major (or any) changes – at least not right away. The longer you practice, and the more effort you put into it, the more likely you are to reap the rewards.
So what are you waiting for? Hit the mat and start feeling better about your body!
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