Yoga Essay - 866 Words

Yoga What is yoga and how is it helpful to the average person? Many people hear the word yoga and think of some sort of stretching and breathing, but yoga is much more complex than this. Yoga is actually characterized by body alignment. In other words it consists of many different poses that stretch and relax the entire body. Yoga is not just about someone sitting on the floor twisting their body. Blocks, straps, blankets, mats, and chairs are all used to enhance positions and to make sure each position is executed properly. Does yoga really benefit ones health, or is it just a waste of time? We have some answers to these questions. CLAIMS There are many confusing and conflicting claims made about all alternative†¦show more content†¦The group that practiced yoga was less aggressive, less excitable, evaluated their life satisfaction higher, had less somatic complaints, and was in higher spirits. This is evidence of a lower stress level in the women who engaged in yoga. Another study, done in 1995, on elite runners and highly trained meditators. The runners and meditators were matched in age, sex, and personality. There was an equal positive mood change for both groups. This shows that meditation and yoga are very similar to exercise when it comes to relieving stress and enhancing mood. RELIEF OF MINOR ACHES AND PAINS A study was done in 1994 to see how yoga affected osteoarthritis of the hands. Two groups were again chosen to participate in the study. The first group was a control group that had no treatment and the other group practiced yoga once a week for eight weeks. After the eight weeks pain, strength, motion, joint circumference, tenderness, and hand function were assessed. The group that had studied yoga had less pain and tenderness, and a greater range of motion, where as the control group had much less significant progress. RELIEF OF SYMPTOMS OF HIV/AIDS Yoga has been used experimentally on patients with HIV/AIDS to help slow the progression of the disease. Yoga has been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, and to increase energy and stamina. There is little evidenceShow MoreRelatedYoga And The Yoga Community1497 Words   |  6 PagesYoga, being one of the most effective self help approaches to life and living, invites me to help ensure that it is being integrated with maximum wisdom related to breathing. This page is about supporting and educating the Yoga community in its quest for superior knowledge and effectiveness about proper breathing. It is our responsibility to alert everyone about this as there are probably millions of students and teachers with an unclear or distorted idea of healthy breathing. Nowadays, you canRead MoreThe Power Of Yoga And Yoga Essay964 Words   |  4 Pages The Power of Yoga Are you feeling stressed, worried, unrelaxed, looking to free your mind, or increase your flexibility? 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