There are a lot of people who view yoga as just a simple spiritual practice rather than a means of intense exercise. But yoga is actually a tough physical workout. Yes, there is a spiritual component, which allows you to relax and unwind. Yet, there is also a physical aspect that you need in order to perform certain movements and positions. By doing the stretches and positions in a yoga routine, you burn calories, build muscle, improve posture and increase flexibility. In most cases, you don’t even realize you’re working out. Many people love yoga because you get so much more out of it than you would just running on the treadmill. So if you have never tried yoga before, you might want to give it a try.

Yoga is not a limiting exercise, meaning that almost everyone can do it. It doesn’t matter if you are obese or physically fit, because yoga has something to offer everyone. It’s a great way to make a positive impact on your overall health and wellness. The mental and physical components of yoga are what make it such an effective workout.

Physical — The physical part of yoga involves stretching and holding certain positions. This requires a great deal of strength and balance. The first time you perform certain yoga positions, you may feel a bit awkward. But you should always make sure that you sign up for a beginner class when you first start, because the poses and positions are a lot easier to pick up. There are over 600 different yoga positions that you can learn. As you become more acclimated with yoga and its terminology, you can begin to take more advanced classes. You might also be surprised at how much energy and effort you actually exert when taking yoga. Certain poses get your heart rate up, which is effective for burning calories and losing weight. Yoga is a great complimentary exercise to weekly cardio regiments.

Mental — As you might already know, yoga is great for the mind. With so many daily stresses affecting us in today’s world, we need time to unwind and take a deep breath now and again. By practicing yoga on a regular basis, you can improve the quality of your life. It teaches you how to “slow down” your mental thoughts through a series of breathing exercises that you perform along with the poses. This is exactly the reason why yoga has proven to be beneficial for such conditions as hypertension, heat disease, diabetes, stress, depression, anxiety and other illnesses. Through conscious breathing, you help your body relax and improve circulation. After a yoga workout, you body feels relaxed and rejuvenated. You may also find that you are less stressed. Your outlook on life will most likely change for the better.

If you want to get fit and increase positivity in your daily life, yoga is the perfect exercise for you. With both a mental and physical workout, you are getting the best of both worlds.

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