A lot of people are intimidated by yoga, it seems to be harder when you look at the photos. But it definitely is something to try out. Anyone can do yoga, you just need to start out slow and build your way up. The whole point is to find your center, work on your breathing and balance.
I myself have experienced yoga's healing powers. Recently my lower back has been giving me some trouble with pain and being able to sit for long periods of time. But I figured if I stretched, even quickly, at some point in the day the stress pain in my lower back would fade.
Yoga also improves flexibility. During your first class, you probably won't be able to touch your toes. But, if you stick with It, you'll notice your muscles slowly loosening and eventually something that you've seen a "yoga guru" do will become possible. It also builds major muscle strength. The good thing about yoga is that when you're building the strength it is balanced with flexibility. As contrasted to if you were to go to the gym and lift weights, you might just build strength at the expense of flexibility.
Yoga actually protects your spine too. Not only does it improve your posture but it is proven that your spinal disks crave movement to get their "nutrients" and if you have a well-balanced practice with backbends, forward bends and twists your disks will be in happy supple.
It also gets your blood flowing. The relaxation exercise you learn can help with circulation, mainly in your hands and feet. Yoga gets more oxygen to your cells which end up functioning better as a result. There are many studies that show yoga can also help lower high blood pressure. From experience, there is a sense of a yoga high that you get when you finish practice or just do a few simple poses for the day. Your body feels overall relaxed and you notice your breathing in steady sync. You sometimes feel like you floating on cloud nine because your body is working together as a well stretched oiled machine. Yoga leads to an increase in serotonin levels in the brain and can actually improve the happiness and well-being of the participant.
Yoga isn't all about the eye-catching, body defying poses but the overall benefits it has to one's life too.
