Commentary by Dr. Sally Brown Bassett
Yoga is transformational and changes lives for those who come to the mat. Most people think of yoga as a way to become more flexible. A yoga practice not only works on strength, endurance and balance, but the benefits affect your entire well-being. Here are just some of those benefits:
- It can enhance your looks, posture, skin, muscle tone and vitality
- It helps with calming and clearing the mind giving a person better clarity
- It releases endorphins that improve mood and energy levels
- It reduces stress that can be linked with insomnia, high blood pressure and memory loss
- It increases lung capacity for better health
- It has also been known to help with weight-loss, depression and relieving back pain and arthritis
According to Joel Kramer, an American Yoga master, the word “disease” means what it literally says: dis-ease. As the body becomes less “easy” in itself, it begins to break down. The process of yoga keeps the physical systems opened and energized which prevents breakdown and illness. Don’t be one of many people who only concern themselves with health when it’s gone.
Whether you come to the mat to relax and reduce stress, to get a great workout, to stop pain and suffering or to seek a spiritual connection or personal growth, you will find your mind, body and heart opening up and your spirit soaring. You will simply feel better – more vibrant, more alive. Just consider the yoga mat as a pathway to the Fountain of Youth.