Yoga is definitely not a new fitness trend, but seems to be increasingly popular as people realize that literally anyone can do it. It doesn’t matter how old you are, how flexible, or coordinated; with some patience and practice, the benefits of yoga can be yours. And, that includes you MEN! More men are practicing yoga than ever, including pro athletes such as Lebron James, Shaquille O’Neal, Ray Lewis, and Victor Cruz. Why? The purpose of yoga is to create strength and awareness in your mind and body meaning that you get both a mental and physical benefit in one workout.
Yoga has been shown to increase flexibility, improve muscle strength and tone, improve respiration, help maintain a balanced metabolism, reduce weight, improve cardio and circulatory health, improve athletic performance, and protect your body from injury. The relaxation techniques used in yoga can also lessen chronic pain such as back pain, arthritis, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome while improving stress management and the quality of sleep you receive.
Not ready to jump into a local yoga class just yet? Check out online and digital resources, such as YouTube demonstrations, DVDs, or cable TV programming such as sports “On Demand” to give it a test run from the comfort of your home.