The term “lifestyle ailment” has come into use only in the last few decades. The reason for this is the unhealthy way of life that urban living forces onmany of us. Long hours of work (usually sitting in front of a computer), being too tired at the end of the day to do anything but watch TV at home and eating way too much junk food all take their toll and our bodies pay the price. The solutions to these issues are obvious, but hard to implement in reality. There is,however, one change to the routine that cannot only resolve these problems but also give you a mental and spiritual calmness that, combined with the physical benefits, will result in a major improvement in the quality of life. That is yoga.

 

The Reasons Why

There is a huge amount of material available on what yoga is and its benefits. Vast amounts of research prove how effective it is.However, the problem many who would benefit from it face is finding the motivation tojoin a yoga class. That is the big hurdle. Once you start and feel the difference it makes, staying with yoga becomes easy. Here are the reasons why you need to get started with yoga.

 

• It is a wonderful form of exercise.The stretching and movements are a great way to get into and stay in shape. Your yoga instructor will identify the movements that are right for your body type. Because you work your way up through the movements gradually, there will be no initial pain so you don’t have to worry about downtime. Result: You look and feel better.
• It improves your physical and mental strength. Yoga requires focus of both the body and mind. The movements and postures will build up your muscles and strengthen the ligaments and tendons. Because you need to mentally focus on the postures as you do them, your cognitive abilities improve. Result: You are able to get a lot more done without feel the physical or mental strain.
• It teaches you to meditate.Meditation is not sitting in an empty space and turning off your mind. It is the process of allowing your mind to de-stress and unwind and by doing this, become more efficient in processing the million thoughts that pass through it every day. Result: Your mental clarity and ability to analyze and respond to situations improves.
• It will enable you to sleep better.The amount you sleep is important but so too is the quality of sleep. Eight hours of restless sleep will not leave you fresh in the morning. There are some yoga postures that, if done before retiring, can help to put you in the calm state that promotes restful sleep. Result: You wake up refreshed and with more energy to face the day.
• It helps you de-stress.Controlled breathing is a big part of yoga. One object of this is to be able to have some control on the metabolic rate of the body and with this control comes the ability to rid the system of many of the factors that subconsciously lead to stress. Result: You are relaxed and in a more positive frame of mind.
• It keeps you healthy. If you have a family history of medical problems like BP, gastric disorders, asthma, arthritis etc., yoga can help you to prevent their onset. If you already have these types of problems, yoga can alleviate the condition without the need for medication. Result: You are healthier and happier.

 

Do It Right

The benefits of yoga are tangible and these will be all the motivation you need to stay with it. A great deal depends on the classes and the teacher. You need to find classes that are accessible to you and at times that suit you. The teacher too is important and your being able to relate to him or herwill affect the results of yoga. Finding the right class is easier if you use a directory that will identify the yoga studios and classes near you and provide contact information so you can check them out to find the one that suits you best.

 

Take the trouble to locate and find out about all the yoga options available to you so you are sure find the right one. The best yoga class will result in the best you.