Physical Benefits of Yoga

• Creates a toned, flexible and strong body.
• Increases flexibility in the spine -- this ensures good nerve supply to all parts of the body, since the nerves from the spine go to all the organs and glands.
• Improves the respiratory system, energy and vitality; Helps to maintain a balanced metabolism.
• Promotes cardio and circulatory health. Relieves pain, prevents illness, and helps you look and feel younger.
• Improves sleep and decreases blood pressure.

Psychological Benefits of Yoga

• Helps you release and handle stressful situations more easily.
• Teaches you how to quiet the mind so you can focus your energy where you want it to go.
• Encourages positive thoughts and self-acceptance.
• Improves learning efficiency.
• Increases well-being.
• Decreases and/or eliminates depression.
• Improves mood and memory.

Spiritual Benefits of Yoga

• Builds awareness of your body, your emotions, the world around you and the needs of others.
• Promotes interdependence between mind, body and soul.
• Helps you live the concept of "oneness."

Yoga Articles

Click on an Article Below to Learn More:

Finding Balance On and Off the Yoga Mat

Yoga is an ancient practice that creates a sense of unity between the mind, body and spirit. Here is Elka's story to finding balance in all areas of life--on and off the yoga mat.

Yoga for Surfers Rides Wave of Popularity

Balance, focus, core strength and calmness are key components of surfing. As the popularity of yoga grows, surfers find they can hone the same elements on a yoga mat when they're out of the water.

How-To: Downward Facing Dog

The most basic and widely-known yoga pose is downward facing dog. However common the pose may be, it's often untaught in the yoga studio. Get the benefits of down dog and a how-to guide here.

Om Remedies

Meditation has a totally new image as a brain-builder, stress-buster and depression-fighter--and you don't have to be a hemp-loving hippie to enjoy it.

Demystifying Stress

Stress is a word on everybody's lips. But how any two people define it can differ dramatically. Scientists increasingly look at stress as an important factor in the origin of illness.

Yoga Versus Pilates: Which One's Right for You?

Yoga and pilates are often thrown into the same category. True, they are similar practices, but they have some major differences that many people don't recognize.

Yoga Therapy for Athletes

The marriage of physical therapy to yoga is a natural one. With a clear understanding of anatomy and movement science, it's obvious that one asana can provide a unique, increasingly popular method of healing, called yoga therapy.

Reiki: Healing Injury in Unexpected Ways

A college rugby player's story on how reiki healed her injuries and illnesses better than any prescription, massage or doctor's orders around.

Namaste Recommends These Books

• "The Path to the Holistic Health" by B.K. Iyengar
• "Light on Yoga" by B.K. Iyengar
• "Instructing Hatha Yoga" by Kathy Lee and Diane Ambrosini
• "The key muscles of Hatha Yoga" by Dr. Ray Long
• "Moola Bandha" by Swami Buddhananda
• "The Sivananda Companion to Yoga" by The Sivananda Yoga Center
• "The Essence of Tantric Sexuality" by Michaels and Johnson
• "Ayurveda The Science of Self-Healing" by Dr. V.Lad
• "Meditation from the Tantras" by Swami Satyananda Saraswati
• "Yoga Nidra by Swami" by Satyananda Saraswati
• "Anatomy of the Spirit" by Caroline Miss
• "Kundalini and the Chakras" by Genevieve Lewis Paulson

Namaste Recommends These Websites

• www.obmassage.com
• www.ashtanga.com
• www.yogajournal.com