RYAH - Rivertown Yoga and Health (Yoga)

Yoga is More than Exercise

Yoga is a complete program that improves health, heals aches and pains, keeps sickness at bay and brings an overall sense of well-being. Yoga recognizes the holistic nature of the human being as composed of body, mind and spirit. Through postures, called asanas, yoga creates flexibility and strength in the muscles, ligaments and skeletal system. Specialized breathing techniques, called pranayama, maximize lung capacity, increase circulation and oxygenation of the blood while massaging the internal organs and releasing toxins from the blood stream. Meditation calms and focuses the mind.

Yoga's benefits include:

Improved Flexibility - with improved flexibility posture improves, and aches and pains begin to disappear; as tight hips relax, pain in knee joints and other areas of the leg begin to lessen; as tight hamstrings relax pain in the lumbar spine will lessen.

Joint Protection - By taking your joints through a full range of motion, Yoga helps prevent degenerative arthritis or mitigate disability by squeezing and soaking areas of cartilage that normally aren't used. Joint cartilage needs this proper sustenance or the cartilage will wear out, exposing the underlying bone.

Spinal Youth - You're as young as your spine is flexible. The spinal discs are the shock absorbers between the vertebrae that crave movement, which brings them nutrients. A well-balanced yoga practice with forward bends, backbends and twists will keep your disks supple and happy.

Bone Health - Weight bearing exercise strengthens bones and protects against osteoporosis. Many Yoga postures require you to lift your own weight, which is equally, if not more beneficial, than using free weights to build bone density.

Better Breathing - With regular practice, breathing deepens and becomes rhythmic and efficient. Exercise capacity increases, which stimulates blood circulation and reduces blood pressure. Yoga also promotes breathing through the nose, which filters the air, warms it (helping to avoid asthma attacks), and humidifies it.

Immune Boost - Yoga practitioners find they sleep better, get fewer colds, feel better, are more relaxed. Numerous scientific studies find that yoga, especially meditation, helps to regulate antibody levels and thereby improve immune function.

Clarity of Thought - Improved oxygen supply and flow of electromagnetic energy results in better concentration. Studies have found that regular yoga practice improves coordination, reaction time, and memory.