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THE THIRD
METRIC
HUFFINGTON
01.12.14
HE EASTERN PRACTICE of yoga has become a modern-day symbol
of peace, serenity and well-being in the West. More than 20 million
Americans practice yoga, according to the 2012 Yoga in America study,
with practitioners spending more than $10 billion a year on yoga-related products and classes.
The mind-body practice is frequently touted for its ability to reduce stress and
boost well-being, but it also offers wide-ranging physical health benefits that rival
other forms of exercise. While the scientific research on yoga’s health benefits is
still young, here’s what we know so far about its potential effects on the body.
MICHAEL BLANN/GETTY IMAGES
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AFTER CLASS
INCREASED FLEXIBILITY.
A recent Colorado State University study found that Bikram yoga
— a form of yoga in which a series
of 26 postures are performed for
90 minutes in a heated room — is
linked with increased shoulder,
lower back and hamstring flexibility, as well as greater deadlift
strength and decreased body fat,
compared with a control group.
IMPROVED BRAIN FUNCTION.
Just 20 minutes of Hat H [