Tag Archives: yoga

Yoga Poses to Help with Stress

Yoga Poses to Help with Stress

Do you get stressed out during this time of year? Me. TOO. Between travel messing with my toddler’s already tenuous sleep schedule, making gifts, cooking holiday meals, and somehow getting work done in between, the holidays can be a little bit overwhelming. Sometimes it helps to just stop. Take a step back. Remember to breathe.

Of course, that’s easier said than done, right? Part of holiday stress is that feeling that there’s just not enough time to do everything that needs doing. Who has a spare hour to practice yoga or meditation? We tend to put off self care when we need it most, so you can do any of the yoga poses below in under five minutes.

If you have more time, you can practice these relaxing, reviving postures for longer or even do them all as a sequence. It’s up to you! If you do choose to do them as a sequence, I suggest starting with a relaxing breathing technique of your choice and ending with at least a few minutes in Savasana to help your body really absorb all of the good work you just did.

 

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-yoga-poses-for-holiday-stress-under-5-minutes-each.html#ixzz3LXgjzvEw

From: www.care2.com

Yoga Could Boost Brain Power in Older Adults

Yoga Could Boost Brain Power in Older Adults

 

"Sedentary older adults who began practicing hatha yoga three times a week for eight weeks experienced a boost in working memory, according to a new study by the University of Illinois.”

"It is possible that this focus on one’s body, mind, and breath during yoga practice may have generalized to situations outside of the yoga classes, resulting in an improved ability to sustain attention.”

For the study, researchers observed 108 adults between the ages of 55 and 79, 61 of whom attended hatha yoga classes. The rest of the participants participated in stretching and toning exercises (but no yoga) for the same number and length of sessions. At the end of eight weeks, the group that practiced yoga three times a week performed better on cognitive tests than they did before yoga classes started.

 

From: psychcentral.com

Yoga Benefits

Does it seem like everyone you know is doing yoga? Well, not everyone, but the numbers are rapidly rising—and with good reason.

Yoga is a form of exercise that nearly anyone can do, with very little equipment, and it improves strength, balance, flexibility and overall physical and mental well-being.

A newly released study shows that the number of U.S. yoga practitioners has increased to more than 36 million, up from 20.4 million in 2012. That's one in every nine people. Wow! Most (almost three-fourths) of yoga practitioners are women, but men and older people are trying yoga in increasing numbers.

The 2016 Yoga in America Study, conducted by Ispos Public Affairs on behalf of Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance, shows that more than one-third of Americans (80 million people) say they are likely to try yoga for the first time in the next 12 months. That means I'd better get to class early and stake out my space.

via Yoga Benefits Mind and Body at All Ages | HealthyWomen.