Yoga - Working smart not hard!
Yoga can be traced back to over 5000 years ago. Yoga is the ultimate body-mind workout. Yoga can help with flexibility, strength, boost energy and reduce stress. When starting yoga choose wisely. Begin with simple asanas or postures. Asanas started out as forms of meditation. There are 6 categories of asanas: seated, standing, supine, prone, balance and twisting. Until you start doing yoga these moves may appear to be unchallenging or even easy. On the contrary if done properly are great low impact ways to get in shape and have great overall health. You can search different sites that promote different styles of yoga. Contact your local gym to see if they allow you to take a free class. Good teachers and comfortable clothes are all you need to start.
Seated postures would include the child pose which stretches the back, on your hands and knees (table posture) bring hips on to your heels and lower you forehead onto the floor. Arms are overhead. Dancer, goddess, half moon, warrior, and downward facing dog are just a few standing postures. Supine postures are done on your back and are great for stress reduction and flexibility. Belly down postures also know as Prone build your core muscles which include your lower back and abs. When doing the balancing postures the key is keeping your eyes focused in one spot. These postures improve concentration and memory. Try looking away from your focus point and see if you don’t start to wiggle. Having back problems, like so many others, try the twisting postures as part of your daily routine. They help realign and lengthen the spine. They also help stretch the back muscles. Threading the needle is a great twisting posture it stretches shoulders, arms and upper back and neck. Starting in table posture (on hands and knees). Slide the right hand between the left hand and knee so that the right shoulder and the side of the head come to the floor. Now stretch your left hand up towards the sky. In all of these postures you must concentrate on your breathing.
Though not intended to treat or diagnose yoga should be used as a supplement to conventional medicine. There are postures for arthritis, colds, depression, and frustration, constipation even vertigo. You can purchase clothing, candles, cds, and tools including mats and blocks. There are a lot of good books to read, The Wisdom of Yoga by Stephen Cope, is a great choice.
The key to yoga is going to your limit, breathing, and reaching just a little further.