WHY YOGA IS TRULY
FOR EVERYONE
From elite athletes to elderly clients with arthritis, yoga can enhance flexibility, strength and endurance
– as well as reduce stress, help digestion and aid sleep.
WORDS: LISA GREENBAUM
t’s no secret that yoga is at the
forefront of leading trends in the
fitness industry, with more and
more people of all ages and fitness levels
continuing to make it part of their weekly
fitness regime. And that’s the key: people of
all ages and fitness levels. Yoga can and
should be practiced by everyone! But why?
Yoga offers both flexibility and strength
training, promoting long isometric holds
and muscular endurance for the entire body,
and especially the core muscles. However,
beyond the physical benefits, perhaps its
greatest function is to enable those who
practice it to slow down and link breath to
movement – an action that serves to not
only reconnect us to our bodies, but also
to greatly reduce stress, help digestion
and aid sleep. Yoga has the power to help
athletes better their game and at the same
time help those with arthritis increase their
mobility and pain-free days. Yoga truly is for
everyone.
As with all elements of the fitness
industry, there are many types and styles
of yoga, from power and hot yoga, to gentle
classes and one-on-one. In the same way
that you have probably tried many different
ways to incorporate the right cardio workout
for you into your training and life – some
love to dance, others go crazy for cycling or
running – it is important to find the style of
yoga that resonates with you and what you
are trying to achieve in your practice. It also
takes time to find a teacher that you connect
with. If you are still resisting your first
class, or have only tried one or two without
success, do yourself a favour: get back out
there, take a chance and try something new.
Isn’t th