Staying Youthful with Yoga
By Michelle Lane

Originating in India many thousands of years ago, yoga focuses on harmony between the mind, body and spirit. Yoga is considered to be the oldest physical discipline in existence; it is a great workout for firming and toning the entire body.  More than physical exercise, yoga brings about a greater sense of self, which results in greater happiness and a better quality of life.

We live in a society that obsesses over the concept of staying young. Yoga is literally an exercise in youthfulness. A famous concept in yoga philosophy determines a person’s age based, not on a chronological number, but rather on the flexibility of the person’s spine.

Yoga is for EVERY-body. People of all ages and physical abilities can do yoga. Flexibility is a bi-product of yoga, not a prerequisite. This is the most common misconception that prevents people from coming to a yoga class. Yoga is not about how flexible you are. It is about improving your health - starting with the body you have right now. If you can only touch your knees, then you try to touch your shins. You move your body into a posture until you feel a stretch, feel your "edge", and then stop there. Wherever your body feels it is where the benefits are occurring.

Many people spend eight hours a day bent over a desk. This lifestyle contributes to one of the most visible symptoms of aging, the rounded spine. Such spinal degeneration affects the organs of the chest cavity, inhibiting full oxygen intake as well as efficient blood flow to the vital internal organs. Practicing yoga prevents, and can even reverse a shortened, rounded spine. Further, yoga lengthens the spine, thereby improving posture, balance, and flexibility. Yoga also increases bone density.

Here are some of the many benefits from doing Yoga:
Body Strength and Stamina
Greater range of motion, Flexibility
Improves Balance, Concentration, Focus 
Reduces Everyday Aches and Pains
Rehabilitate and Heal Injuries
Stress Reduction
Mental and Emotional Benefits
Helps you sleep better
Better digestion and weight loss

Regular practice (at least three times per week) can reduce the symptoms of many chronic illnesses (e.g., arthritis, thyroid disorders, lower blood pressure, herniated discs, carpal tunnel syndrome).
 
Yoga enthusiasts refer to yoga as the fountain of youth, due in part by the many inverted positions executed during practice. Modern medicine has long recognized the benefits of inverting the body, recommending it for reversing such conditions as weakened veins in the lower leg and respiratory problems. Reversing the downward pull of gravity helps improve circulation, intestinal efficiency, and brain function.

Dr. Krishna Raman, in his writings on yoga and the circulatory system, states that the blood flow to the brain of a 65 year old may be one third that of a 25 year old. Inverted yoga postures also help to diminish the appearance of aging due to increased oxygen and blood flow to the face.