| Often the most effective ways to lose weight | | | | stretching - dynamic and static. Dynamic |
| and stay fit involve some extra time and effort. | | | | stretching involves motion and static stretching |
| Yoga positions, stretching and meditation require | | | | requires no motion. Stretching makes you more |
| no specialized equipment and little more than your | | | | limber and reduces the risk of physical injury to |
| time and the desire to learn, relax and feel | | | | your joints, muscles and tendons, which is a great |
| healthy. | | | | advantage when embarking upon other forms of |
| Hatha yoga is the most commonly practiced type | | | | exercise. Stretching also reduces soreness and |
| of yoga in western civilizations. Yoga is a | | | | tension in your muscles and tendons and increases |
| combination of breathing and positions that | | | | suppleness, lubricates connective tissues and even |
| encourage harmony between the mind and body. | | | | relieves dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) in |
| By practicing conscious breathing and various | | | | women. |
| postures, you tone your body and build muscle | | | | Meditation is used to get in touch with your higher |
| while relieving stress and improving your memory. | | | | self and unify your consciousness to create |
| Yoga also strengthens your back, reduces your | | | | optimal mental and physical health, enabling you to |
| need for sleep and increases your lifespan. For | | | | realize your full potential as a person. There are |
| women, yoga is effectively used to prepare for | | | | two types of meditation - active and passive. |
| birth as well as relieve painful menstruation and | | | | Active meditation involves use of a mantra, which |
| menopause. The benefits of yoga for men, | | | | is the repetition of a particular word, syllable or |
| women, children and senior citizens are promoted | | | | sound. Passive meditation involves observing your |
| by many physicians today. However, a key | | | | breath, much as you do during yoga. Benefits of |
| element to remember when doing yoga is to take | | | | meditating include lower blood pressure, decreased |
| your time because it takes awhile to learn the | | | | heart and respiratory rates and an overall feeling |
| positions correctly and coordinate your muscles, | | | | of calmness and well-being. |
| mind and energy. | | | | By developing a regular routine of yoga positions, |
| Many of the positions used in yoga involve | | | | stretching and meditation, you can keep your |
| stretching, which relaxes your muscles and | | | | weight under control while enjoying a lifetime of |
| reduces tension. Basically, there are two types of | | | | mental and physical fitness. |