Yoga Benefits Mind and Body

Dear Dr. Dave and Dr. Dee,

Isn't yoga mainly sitting and meditating?

Signed,

Mulling meditating

Dear Mulling meditating,

Yoga is more than a mental or spiritual discipline, it is also increases flexibility and strength. Yoga incorporates a variety of postures with controlled breathing exercises.

There are many health benefits to yoga. The Mayo Clinic lists several below (www.mayoclinic.com),

HEALTH BENEFITS OF YOGA (mayoclinic.com)

1. Stress reduction. With its quiet, precise movements, yoga draws your focus away from your busy, chaotic day and toward calm as you move your body through poses that require balance and concentration.

2. Increased fitness: As you learn and refine new poses, you may enjoy improved balance, flexibility, range of motion and strength. And this means you're less likely to injure yourself in other physical endeavors or in your daily activities.

3. Management of chronic health conditions: Yoga might help with a variety of health conditions, such as cancer, depression, pain, anxiety and insomnia, by helping with sleep problems, fatigue and mood. Yoga also can help reduce heart rate and blood pressure.

4. Weight loss: If you're overweight or have binge-eating disorder, yoga may help you make the healthy lifestyle changes necessary to gain control of your eating and drop those extra pounds.