Yoga is a popular exercise for all ages. It has many health benefits and can be relaxing. You may be intimidated if you have never done yoga by the photos of people doing acroyoga that you see online. Yoga is beneficial to people of all levels, including those with varying degrees of flexibility, athletic abilities, and stamina. Your physical therapist may prescribe yoga-derived movements to help you recover after orthopedic surgery or treat a condition.
We at Orthopedic Wisconsin want you to live a healthy life and feel good. This includes being active and mobile. Yoga can be a great low-impact workout recommended by your physical therapy or a good new program to try. We have listed the health benefits of yoga.
Joint Range of Movement
Yoga can help you improve your range-of-motion if you have trouble moving certain parts of your body. Maybe your hips or shoulders are too tight to allow you reach as far as possible. For yoga poses like the downward-facing dog you need to have a range of motion that is average or better than average in your shoulders, hips and ankles. Yoga is a great tool to help you set a goal for your range of motion if you are unable to do the pose correctly. Start by modifying the pose and progress to the correct position as your range of movement improves.
Flexibility of Muscles
Yoga improves muscle flexibility in a similar way to increasing range of motion. Your muscles will bend and stretch as you perform different yoga poses to achieve the correct form. As your muscles become more accustomed to the movements, they will be able move more. Yoga poses work on different muscle groups to increase flexibility. You can choose which movements are best for you.
Balance
Many yoga poses are designed to improve your balance and create a solid base for your body. Many yoga poses focus on establishing a firm foundation through your legs and feet. Many poses also focus on stabilizing the body and maintaining a strong core. Over time, this focus on stabilization and grounding will improve your ability to balance. Your orthopedic health will benefit from improving your balance as you can better coordinate your movements. Balance helps you move, and reduces your chances of injury and falling.
Posture
Yoga is all about maintaining good posture. You must be aware of your posture to achieve this. To achieve many poses, it is important to align your bones correctly. You will naturally improve your posture as you strengthen your core and concentrate on proper form.
Increases muscle strength and tone
Weight-bearing poses in traditional yoga don’t require any additional equipment or weights. Instead, they use your own body weight to increase strength. Weight-bearing positions will improve your strength and muscle tone over time. Your muscle strength can improve your ability to perform daily tasks and prevent injuries.
Cardiovascular Benefits
A flow yoga practice is designed to increase your heart rate and hit several different poses. You’ll soon be sweating after a few minutes. Yoga flows can help you meet your daily aerobic requirements and reap the cardiovascular benefits.
Weight Loss
Combining aerobic exercise and muscle building with a healthy lifestyle and diet can help you lose weight. Weight loss can reduce the strain on bones and joints, preventing injury and orthopedic conditions.
Offers Relief
A physical therapist can recommend yoga-derived exercises. Yoga can improve your muscles and joints function and relieve painful conditions. Yoga can help reduce stiffness and pain in arthritis. Inactivity can cause pain, but improving blood circulation has been shown to help reduce it. Stretching out a muscle that is stiff will also help to loosen and relax the muscle.
Reduces Stress
Yoga’s benefits for mental health and stress are among the main reasons why people love it. It can improve your body but also has mental benefits such as meditation, mindfulness breathing and mental imaging. Combining mental activities and physical activity can improve your mood, increase mindfulness, and enhance your self-compassion.
Builds Community
Yoga is a great way to connect with others and can be done at home with little resources. Yoga classes can be a great way to meet new people. You’ll not only meet people who are looking to improve their own health, but also bond with them over the shared experience.