10 Reasons Why Yoga is a Businesswoman’s best friend - Part Two
In this second part of the 2 part article, I share the next five reasons why your body loves yoga. Medical practitioners are prescribing yoga and mindfulness for a variety of reasons. So if you haven’t checked out part 1 yet, it’s worth the read.
In my personal experience, over the last 15 years, I’ve found Yoga to be one of the best anti depressants, tension relievers and nervous system calming factors. At the same time it strengthens bones, boosts health and can prevent many autoimmune conditions.
Over the last five years I’ve been teaching yoga from the water. So many people have shared with me over that time just how much their physical and mental health have improved.
1. Anxiety release. One of the most successful non medical ways to treat Anxiety is through deep breath and meditation. Try it now. Sit comfortably, eyes closed and take 20 slow deep, calm belly breaths in through the nose, let the diaphragm stretch and feel the belly rise. Exhale out through the nose. Count slowly to 5 as you inhale, count slowly to 7 as you exhale. Make that exhale just that little bit longer and slower.
2. Toning the body. As well as stretch, yoga teaches the body to move slowly into strong poses and hold for a short period of time. The power of slow deliberate strong movement can shape the body efficiently by elongating the muscles and toning the limbs. Never underestimate the power of slow. Long slow held poses power into the muscle efficiently and effectively creating that lean yoga muscular body. By the way, have you tried my free class on my virtual yoga page?
3. Muscle tension release. Holding tightness or pain in your shoulders? Tight hips? This will be typically where tension is held. Yoga releases this brilliantly. I used to have a sedentary job. Lots of sitting in front of the computer. As we sit, muscles shorten. If they’re not taken out for a stretch and lengthened often, tightness creeps in slowly but with a vengeance. And when muscles become chronically tight, so many other issues creep in.
4. Osteoporosis. Yoga uses the resistance of the weight of the body. Many people believe yoga doesn’t create the body effect that weightlifting does. There are many yoga poses that put tension on the bones e.g. plank, downward dog, handstands and more. This strengthens bones and muscles reducing the risk of Osteoporosis. Even if you currently have the condition, gentle yoga can help keep the body limber and toned.
5. Blood Sugar reduction. High Intensity Interval Training and Medium Intensity Interval Training the Yoga way, can reduce blood sugar levels. Raised blood sugar creates increased potential for Diabetes, Heart Disease, Autoimmune conditions, Cancer and Obesity.
6. And one of the most important reasons to bring yoga into the workplace….. Lowering blood pressure. So many people suffer from high blood pressure. Of course if your doctor has prescribed medication, then you must do as they say. However, deep stretch, breath and mindful yoga practice does wonders to assist with bringing it down.
One of the best ways to keep the body toned, calm, tension free and strong is to adopt a regular yoga practice. Try some yoga for 10 minutes every morning, lunchtime and before going to bed. When your body is ‘living yoga’ your business and life in general responds in a calm, strong, deliberate manner.
Head to my virtual yoga page at www.annenoonan.com.au/virtual-yoga. Try the free class and see how you feel afterwards. It’s only 25 minutes of gentle, doable yoga suitable for any body at any level. Then why not join my online program. For $47 a month you’ll receive a library of fabulous classes of varying levels of intensity and timeframe to choose from. Do them at a time that suits you.