Due to the fact that Yoga can be practiced in many different ways, often those new to the world of Yoga will base their overall impression of this way of life on a very narrow set of beliefs. This ultimately results in the conception of misconceptions regarding this practice. The following article aims to clarify four of the most common misconceptions regarding the practice of Yoga.

Yoga Is A Form of Exercise

Yes! Yoga is a form of exercise but so is walking. For example, I can walk from my house to the grocery store and back, which will take me about 30 minutes, but by doing so I can’t claim to have completed my fitness routine for the day.

The fact of the matter is that exercise is a small component of the principles that collectively constitute the practice of Yoga. Therefore, in order to define Yoga as a form of exercise it is best to see it as a combination of physical exercise, physiotherapy, psychology and spirituality.

As you begin to master Yoga you will begin to develop physical strength and flexibility as well as a unique form of mental strength and discipline. For some of you, this form of mental strength and discipline will ultimately transcend into a unique form of spiritual awakening that will allow you to completely clear your minds of all thought and enter a deep mode of meditation while practicing Yoga.

Yoga Is For Hippies

As I’ve previously mentioned, Yoga can be a very spiritual experience. However, the belief that you must approach the practice of Yoga with a certain type of spiritual belief in tow is a misconception.

Yoga aims to align our bodies, minds and spirits and provide us with inner peace and balance through a series of physical and mental exercises that ultimately benefit the spirit. Though for many this is a spiritually freeing experience, there does not need to be a religious basis behind it.

Yoga Is A Fad

Recently, we have seen a rise in the number of Yoga courses making outrageous claims about what the practice of Yoga can achieve. Of course these courses must be lumped together with other ‘fad’ exercise crazes and forgotten. That is because no matter how hard some may try to put a new spin on the practice of Yoga, Yoga as a whole is not new.

The poses and principles that make up the many branches of Yoga are rooted in philosophies that are hundreds of years old. We must keep in mind that an individual style of Yoga may come and go, but the practice of Yoga, as a whole, will continue to inspire, motivate and challenge us for generations to come.

Yoga Is Too Slow To Help Me Lose Weight And Tone My Body

This misconception regarding Yoga is most prevalent and completely false. Unfortunately, this misconception regarding Yoga is most prevalent amongst fitness enthusiasts because the weight loss industry is working hard to convince us that weight loss can only be achieved by spending hours in the gym performing fast, high impact, exercise.

However, practitioners of Yoga know that while low impact, Yoga poses are highly effective forms of exercises that target all the major muscle groups of our bodies. Furthermore, the different types of Yoga provide the fitness enthusiast with a variety of exercise formats. For example, Hatha Yoga aims to increase flexibility while Ashtanga Yoga builds physical strength and Bikram Yoga relieves both physical and mental tension.

Furthermore, the mental discipline that you will acquire as a practitioner of Yoga can be used to benefit your weight loss efforts by increasing your mental strength and allowing you to be more disciplined with your food consumption and less vulnerable to binge eating episodes caused by stress or unwholesome emotions.

Yoga is far more than a sport. Yoga is a traditionally Indian physical and mental discipline which strives to unite mind and body through meditative and physical practices rooted in the ancient teachings of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain philosophies.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Yoga is viewed as a science in many ancient cultures and taught in ways similar to our modern scientific methods.

Yogic science seeks to verify cause and effect, and build principles based upon objective observations. Therefore, in order to be a credible Yogic master one must be highly educated in physics and the biological sciences as well as philosophy and psychology.

Yoga, or the series of postures that have been developed through centuries of practice to help increase the flexibility, strength and endurance of the human body and spirit, is just as empirical and pragmatic in nature as the science of kinesiology, or exercise science, which seeks to understand how the body acts and reacts to changes in the internal physical environment.

The Mind-Body Connection

Yoga is centered on the mind-body connection which aims to synchronize our bodies into well-oiled pieces of machinery. This mind-body harmony is achieved through three things:

• Postures (asanas)
• Proper breathing (pranayama)
• Meditation

Physical Benefits of Yoga

• Equilibrium in the body’s central nervous system
• Decreases in pulse
• Decreases in blood pressure
• Cardiovascular efficiency
• Gastrointestinal system stabilization
• Increased lung capacity
• Improved dexterity skills
• Improved Flexibility
• Improved balance
• Improved depth perception
• Improved memory

Psychological Benefits of Yoga

The most notable psychological benefit of Yoga is an improved ability to manage stress. Yoga diminishes anxiety, depression, and lethargy; thus enabling us to focus on spiritually important concepts such as achieving balance and happiness.

Stress is the underlying cause of a wide variety of psychological as well as physical ailments, in our modern world. Fortunately, today the medical community recognizes the practice of Yoga as a viable stress management technique. This is because the medical community has solidified the fact that stress is reflected in the reaction of our nervous system and thus conditions such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, some cardio-vascular diseases, and irritable bowel syndrome are further aggravated by increased stress levels.

The practice of Yoga helps alleviate stress by reversing the body’s natural “fight or flight” response to stress. The countermeasure for “fight or flight” is known as the “relaxation response” which causes a slowing down of the heartbeat, lowering of blood pressure, increased blood flow to the skin and viscera, and peristalsis of the GI tract – the exact opposite of “fight or flight” symptoms.

Yoga induces this reverse response by teaching us to breathe deeply and relax muscles. This structured breathing pattern allows the body to recover from the effects of stress faster. The structured breathing patterns and movements of Yoga calm the spirit and teach us mental skills that enable us to focus on finding solutions to problems instead of being paralyzed by stress. Through prolonged practitioners of Yoga learn to be proactive and take care of the stressors in their lives.

Historically, meditation has always existed within a religious context. An integral part of all religions, since ancient times, meditation is nothing more than a mental exercise during which time an individual contemplates varies spiritual matters in hopes of reaching a heightened sense of awareness.

Within Christianity, time spent in private devotion and prayer can be viewed as a form of meditation. Within Hinduism, meditation has been systematized in the school of Yoga. Within the Buddhist religion, the concentrated meditation aspect of Yoga gave rise to the school of philosophy that is the basis for Zen.

Today, in the Western world, transcendental meditation is the most common form of meditation being practiced. The main goal of this form of meditation is to teach meditation techniques outside of a religious context. The main goal of transcendental meditation is to help balance a person’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Meditation As Alternative Therapy

The use of meditation for healing and spiritual enlightenment is an ancient practice common amongst the world’s greatest religions and oldest cultures. Within these societies, meditation is an accepted therapy method that is classified as a form of mind-body alternative medicine.

However, only recently, in the Western world, has science begun to document the effects of meditation on our overall well-being. As a result, more and more health care professionals are prescribing meditation as a means to help patients ease  and manage chronic pain, relieve stress, depression and anxiety, boost immunity, and resolve pregnancy problems. Some health care professionals are also going as far as prescribing meditation as a means to help their patients lower their blood pressures naturally, improve exercise performance in people with angina, and help patients with asthma manage their symptoms more effectively.

Meditation & Stress Management

Anxiety, depression and a host of other physical and mental health issues triggered or worsened by stress seem to be the emblematic plagues of modern life. Worse of all is the fact that at some point we all are destined to experience the emotional and physical drawbacks of the elevated stress levels that accompany life in a modern setting.

The good news is that according to cardiologist Herbert Benson, MD, “Any condition that is caused or worsened by stress can be alleviated through meditation”. Benson is the founder of the Mind/Body Institute at Harvard Medical School’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. According to Benson, the relaxation induced by meditation can help decrease metabolism, lower blood pressure, and improve heart rate, breathing, and brain waves. This is because various scientific studies have established the existence of a link between mind and body. This link  allows the body to release tension and tightness from muscles when told to do so by the mind.

Meditation Technique

Meditation is not difficult to learn. This skill, which needs to be practiced often, consists mainly of disciplining the mind to focus on nothing but one’s breathing patterns. Meditation is usually accompanied by a mantra, a word or phrase that is repeatedly chanted, in order to clear the mind of all distractions and produce a purely biological response such as relaxation. The soothing power of repetition is at the heart of meditation. Only, constant practice of meditation is capable of allowing one to learn and develop the ability to produce meditative and relaxed states without difficulty.

Other Health Benefits of Meditation

Heart Health: Countless studies have shown that regular practice of meditation can help significantly lower one’s blood pressure. A study conducted at the College of Maharishi Vedic Medicine in Fairfield, Iowa, showed significant lowering of blood pressure and heart rate in African American adults who meditated on a regular basis. Another study conducted by the American Journal of Hypertension concluded that teenagers who meditated for at least 15 minutes, twice a day, for four months, were able to lower their blood pressures a few points.

Immune Booster: In a Psychosomatic study of the function of the immune system, meditation was shown to be useful in warding off common illnesses and infections. During the course of this study scientists gave flu shots to a group of volunteers who meditated regularly and also to individual who did not meditate. The blood tests of the group of study subjects who meditated showed higher levels of antibodies against the flu virus.

Women’s Health: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), infertility problems, and even breastfeeding can be improved when women meditate regularly. In one study, PMS symptoms subsided by 58% when women meditated on a regular basis. Another study found that hot flashes were less intense among post-menopausal women who practiced meditation.

Pregnancy: In another women’s health study, women struggling with infertility were able to reduce their anxiety, depression and fatigue levels following a 10-week meditation program. As a result of this study 34% of the meditating women were able to become pregnant naturally, within six months. But, most interesting of all was the finding of one study which showed that new mothers who meditated on images of milk flowing from their breasts were able to more than double their production of breast milk.

Meditation & Brain Activity: Another study found that those individuals who practice meditation regularly have significantly higher brain activity, called gamma wave activity, in areas associated with learning and happiness compared with those who do not practice meditation. Gamma waves involve mental processes including attention, memory, learning and conscious perception.

Guest post by Ayanna Nahmias, the highly acclaimed author of the internationally renowned blog, The Nahmias Cipher Report.

After my traumatic divorce I was faced with raising a child by myself. I was blessed to have the support of my mother and sister. However, the burden of good parenting usually falls upon the shoulders of the individual who has custody. Thus began my quest to return to health and fitness.

Prior to my son’s birth I was an incredible athlete. I ran triathlons, raced roller-blades, rode horses, and worked out two to three times a week with a personal trainer. My body was my temple, and like many people who live in South Beach, Miami, maintaining the perfect physique was not only desired but required. Like many busy professionals, I waited to have children and did not get pregnant until I was nearly forty.

Throughout my pregnancy I continued to exercise, eat a low fat diet, and follow all of my obstetrician’s advice. I talked to other mother’s about postpartum exercise regimes and weight loss techniques. I was wisely advised to breast feed as it usually speeds weight loss. It worked quite well for me, and then when my son was just a few months old my milk dried up and so did the significant weight loss I had experienced. In fact, I noticed, to my chagrin, that I even started to gain weight, despite carefully watching my diet.

I found it increasingly difficult to balance single-motherhood with a workout regime. I paid for several sports club memberships which ended up as a waste of money because I was either too tired or too busy to make it to the gym. Next, I bought a home step machine which I used in the evenings, but after a few weeks I lost my motivation. Then I decided perhaps Pilates, Tai Chi, or Yoga might help me lose weight and reduce my stress.

I managed to make it to several classes before once again the hectic demands of work and motherhood intruded. I promised myself that as soon as my schedule relaxed I would return to the tranquility of the studio. But, this commitment, like previous efforts, remained unrealized. By this time I was very unhappy with my appearance as I had gained over forty pounds and gone from a size 4 to a size 12.

It was then that I decided to join a mother’s group. Theoretically women in this group could understand the challenges of trying to stay fit while raising young kids. I imagined that I could become close to one of these women and we would become workout ‘pals’. The approach seemed sensible; however, I found that it was hard to bond with women who were usually fifteen to twenty years my junior.

During the intervening years I managed to loose some weight and was now wearing a size 8. However, I seemed to hit a plateau and remained unable to achieve my pre-pregnancy weight, despite all efforts. By then my son had grown into a handsome and very active eight year old. He loved animals and wanted to add a dog to his menagerie of frogs, snails and fish. As I already cared for these creatures, despite my son’s promises, the idea of taking care of a puppy seemed overwhelming.

We decided to get a rescue dog and adopted a Labrador Retriever puppy. We brought him home when he was 8 weeks old and it turned out to be the answer to my long pursuit of a return to fitness. Since we live in an apartment building, we have to take the dog out for walks quite often. In the beginning it was every two hours, but now at three months old, he lasts between five to seven hours between outings.

He is a very active puppy with a lot of energy and enjoys walking quite fast. Our ‘power walks’ are so enjoyable that I didn’t even realize how much energy I was expending until one day I had nothing to wear and decided to slip on a pair of size 6 jeans. Imagine my surprise when they fit beautifully. At long last, I had discovered the secret to weight loss and a healthy exercise regime; a puppy named Mr. Fluffy.

Ayanna’s Bio

Ayanna Nahmias was born in 1964 in Florida into a military Christian family, but was subsequently raised Muslim.  The eldest of three children, her father studied and earned his degree in physics and mathematics, while her mother taught English. In 1970 her radical, Islamist father who had a deep hatred for American values and culture moved the family to Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. Three years later they relocated to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania after a grueling three week cross continent journey by car.

Several years later, her mother fled from her husband’s oppressive and tyrannical rule, and returned to the United States with Ayanna and her siblings. Ayanna completed high school in Bethesda, Maryland, and received a Benjamin E. Mays academic scholarship to pursue her tertiary education at Bates College in Maine.

During her third year, she completed a semester abroad at The Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Studies, a Bates College exchange program at Oxford University. Upon her return to the States she was awarded a Bachelors of Arts degree in English Literature.

Ayanna was recently interviewed about her life in Africa and what it was like to survive cerebral malaria and to successfully conquer many other life challenges. She was featured on Radio Netherlands Worldwide program titled, “The State We’re In”, a show that highlights “first-person stories from around the world about human rights, human wrongs and how we treat each other.” The interview broadcast on 21 August 2010 in the US on an NPR affiliate stations and will be available for download on the net.

Ayanna currently resides in Arlington, Virginia where she publishes an internationally followed, highly rated blog titled The Nahmias Cipher Report. In addition to writing her memoir titled “Memoirs of a Cipher,” she also cares for her mother, an ordained Baptist Minister; and she is raising her son as an Orthodox Jew. Because of her unique history she adheres to and instills in her son a deep and abiding respect for his biracial heritage and for all People of the Book.

Build Your Own Home Gym Because:

• Health clubs charge outrageous membership and personal training fees.
• Health clubs are not child-friendly environments.
• Health clubs are often crowded during peak hours.
• Health clubs are hot-beds for a multitude of germs and viruses such as the flu virus.

Those who shy away from building their own home gyms do so because they feel they do not have enough room in their homes or just cannot afford the equipment. But, the fact of the matter is that nothing could be further from the truth. There are hundreds of highly effective, affordable and space-saver fitness equipment on the market today.

The following is a list of highly versatile and budget-friendly fitness equipment every woman needs in order to start building the home gym of her dreams.

Yoga Mat

Most fitness enthusiasts know that there is nothing more refreshing and energizing than starting the day with a morning-Yoga routine, like the one illustrated in this video. However, what most new fitness enthusiasts may not know is that besides being essential to the proper practice of Yoga, a high quality, thick and non-slip Yoga mat is also the most basic and versatile of all fitness equipment. With a little bite of imagination, one can use a non-slip, high quality Yoga mat, such as this Aurorae Yoga mat, for an array of bodyweight exercises as well as core exercises and Pilates.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRsC1YdXqOc

Aurorae Yoga Mat – Ultra Thick, Extra Long with Focal Point Icon and Illuminating colors that define your Inner Self. SGS approved Free from Phthalates

Resistance Bands

As this video clearly demonstrates, resistance bands, such as these flex bands, are instrumental to the effective practice of Pilates. Those of you who do not practice Pilates can also use these bands to help you add a level of resistance to your morning-stretch routine or your pre-workout warm up sessions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMFbjkHHxtM

Stott Pilates Flex-Bands Gift Pack (Blue and Green)

Exercise Balls

The stability ball, often also referred to as an exercise ball, Swiss ball or balance ball, is not a new piece of fitness equipment. For decades now physical therapists have utilized the power of this simple, yet highly versatile piece of fitness equipment to help rehabilitate people suffering from spine injuries, sport injuries, and traumatic head injuries, who need to regain their hand-eye coordination.

Recently, fitness professionals have also become aware of the exercise ball’s awesome ability to strengthen the torso, tone the abs, improve one’s posture and help minimize lower back pain. Due to these, and a variety of other reasons, stability balls are fast becoming today’s most popular piece of fitness equipment. If you are interested in incorporating an exercise ball into your workout routine but are not sure how to go about choosing the right ball than please read the article: How To Choose The Right Exercise Ball.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQrebXbos30

Natural Fitness 55cm Professional Burst-Resistant Exercise Ball (Moss)

Ankle/Wrist Weights

I love these ankle/wrist weights. They are an extremely stylish, comfortable, highly effective, and easy to use piece of fitness equipment. All you need to do to get an effective workout using these weights is strap them on your wrists and/or ankles and go about your daily chores. I like to use my ankle/wrist weights while I clean the house. These weights keep my heart rate up while the added weight helps me burn more calories as I move around the house and tone my arms as I clean. Of course, as this video demonstrates, these weights can also be used during any workout routine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE1XUXVS6gk

Thera-Band Comfort Fit Ankle/Wrist Cuff Weight Sets

Medicine Balls

Medicine balls help add variety to your workouts. They are especially useful for helping tone and balance your upper body while you work on strengthening your lower body. Medicine balls are also a fun and highly effective addition to partner-workouts. These balls can easily be passed from one person to the other during the course of the workout thus improving both hand-eye coordination as well as adding an agility and weight training element to the workout.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bUlp8ECPV8

Valeo MB4 4-Pound Medicine Ball

Exercise Wheel

To the untrained eye this funny looking wheel with handles does not look like a highly effective piece of fitness equipment. But, those who are familiar with it affectionately refer to it as “the wheel of pain”. That is because this unpretentious looking piece of fitness equipment has the power to use your own bodyweight to train your abdominal muscles as well as your shoulders, lats and glutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5bMmG5VHyI

Everlast Standard Duo Exercise Wheel

Dumbbells

We are all aware of the role weight training plays in firming and shaping our dream bodies. Unfortunately, often women, especially women new to the world of fitness, are reluctant to start weight training due to the fear of “bulking up”. Therefore, it is important for every woman to understand that lifting weights that will put a moderate level of strain on your muscles will only tone, elongate and strengthen your muscles. The following video demonstrates just one form of exercise a woman can do, using dumbbells, to sculpt strong, sexy arms.

This PowerBlock Dumbbell Set is a must-have item for every woman’s home gym because it is especially designed with a woman’s fitness needs in mind. In order to help tone your muscles, and maintain that definition over time, these easy to grip dumbbells are designed to increase the resistance they place on your muscles in three pound increments. You can gradually work your way up to lifting 24 pounds with each arm, which is the maximum amount of weight the average woman can lift without worrying about “bulking up”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vpRNBjdOIk

PowerBlock SportBlock 24 Adjustable 3 to 24-Pounds per Dumbbell Set

Bosu-Balance Trainer

The Bosu-Balance Trainer is a new piece of fitness equipment that is fast becoming a favorite amongst personal trainers, physical therapists, athletes and fitness enthusiasts simply because it works. The genius behind The Bosu-Balance Trainer’s ability to simultaneously train every muscle in your body lies in the fact that it provides your muscles with an extreme amount of imbalance against which they must work. This imbalance forces all the muscles in your body to contract, in order to balance the body.

As this video clearly demonstrates, the simplest of all exercises such as the forward lunge, turns into an intense workout for your calf, quads, hamstrings, glutes, abs and back muscles, since all of these muscles must contract in order to balance your body during the lunge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE06ddxbilc

THE BOSU BALL – PROFESSIONAL BALANCE TRAINER – NEW & IMPROVED VERSION 2009!!

Exercise Bench

No home gym is complete without a sturdy and padded fitness bench like this Trion Fitness Folding Flat Bench. This highly versatile piece of fitness equipment is the ultimate multi-tasker. As this video demonstrates, you can use this bench for a variety of bodyweight and weight training exercises. In the decline position, this bench can also be used to train the mid and lower abs as well as the obliques, better known as “the love handles”. Best of all, when you are finished with your workout you can simply fold this compact bench and slip it under your bed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0326dy_-CzM

Trion Fitness Folding Flat Bench by HOIST

Weight Training Gloves

These sleek, stylish gloves are a must-have item for any woman looking to incorporate weight training into her workout routine. Besides protecting your hands from callouses and an array of other workout related injuries, these machine-washable gloves will also help support your wrists during weight training sessions and help you grip dumbbells better, thus improving  the amount of control you have over the weights.

Harbinger Womens Anti-Microbial FlexFit Weight Lifting Gloves

One of the main challenges of caring for a child with Down Syndrome is helping him/her stay mobile. Weight gain, due to inactivity and thyroid problems common in Down Syndrome individuals, exasperate the musculoskeletal problems of these individuals causing them to lean towards inactivity which in turn further exasperates their cardiac and respiratory problems, leading to a shorter than usual lifespan. In order to remain physically and emotionally healthy, as well as combat some of the the compensatory movements these children tend to develop, in order to maintain their balance and mobility, it is imperative that extensive physical therapy and exercise be a part of their daily routine.

However, establishing an appropriate exercise routine for such children is also extremely difficult. Children with Down Syndrome cannot and should not partake in high impact sports due to their low motor skills, cardiac and respiratory problems, and musculoskeletal problems. For example, a Down Syndrome child with asthma, hip problems, flat feet and bad knees is likely to suffer injury if enrolled in a sport which requires him to run, jump or even walk for extensive periods of time.

So, what is a parent to do?

First and foremost, seek support within your community. It is important to know that you and your child are not alone in this journey. Next, know your child and his or her physical abilities and limitations. Partner with your doctor and learn about effective physical therapy options. Research has shown that starting physical therapy at an early age is the key to helping your child live a healthy and happy life. Baptist Rehabilitation-GermanTown is just one of the many places dedicated to helping children with Down Syndrome and their families. The following YouTube.com video is an example of what such a rehabilitation program can do for you and your child.

Another option is to supplement your child’s daily routine with therapeutic fitness programs such as Yoga. An activity such as Yoga can help improve your child’s muscle tone, balance and flexibility while providing him or her with a sense of accomplishment and peace. Parents of children with Down Syndrome are just recently discovering the benefits of Yoga for their children. The following YouTube.com video does a great job of explaining the benefits of Yoga for children with Down Syndrome.

The following are just some of the ways children as young as four years old can benefit from Yoga:

Calm Children’s Minds and Spirits

The meditation practices of Yoga help calm children’s minds and spirits which in turn increases their ability to focus. A number of studies have linked meditation to decreased behavior problems and improved concentration in children with ADHD. Due to this research, a number of school districts in Minneapolis are now incorporating Yoga into their curriculum in an effort to improve their students’ concentration levels and decrease behavior problems within the classroom.

Build High Self Esteem

These days children are forced to grow up fast, in a fast paced environment full of various pressures which can in turn lead to anxiety and low self esteem. Yoga practices foster a sense of well being in children, which in turn helps them manage their frustration and anxiety. These essential coping mechanisms give children a sense of confidence with which they can tackle the hassles of everyday life.

Strengthen The Back Muscles At an Early Age

Back pain, especially lower back pain is not a significant problem for children. However, incorporating Yoga into your child’s workout routine can help strengthen his/her lower back ensuring that he/she will not suffer from significant lower back pain as an adult.

Help Maintain Muscle Flexibility

Children are naturally flexible. However, a majority of them lose this flexibility as they get older. Yoga will help children maintain their flexibility as they get older, thus helping prevent muscle strain.

Educate and Motivate Children To Lead a Healthy Lifestyle

Yoga promotes balance on all levels. Children who practice Yoga have a high self esteem, a better awareness of their bodies and better everyday coping skills. The combination of these skills help children grow into adults who find ways to balance all aspects of their lives and lead healthy, well-rounded, fulfilling lives.

Yoga is also a lot of fun for kids, as this cute video clearly demonstrates.

Now, it is time to work on getting your pre-baby body back. And of course, there is no better way to do that than through Yoga.

Note: Yoga is often recommended for women looking to begin an exercise program after childbirth because of its low-impact nature.

Yoga is a wonderful and highly effective post-pregnancy workout because of its ability to help you:

Relieve Stress

The arrival of a new baby is a joyous time. It can also be an extremely stressful time. The relaxation, meditation and breathing exercises practiced through Yoga will help calm you and your baby, who often mirrors your moods.

Strengthen Your Core

It has been nine months since you have been able to workout your core muscles; mainly the back and abdominal muscles. The bloated, saggy look of the abdomen, right after childbirth, is mainly due to this fact. By strengthening, tightening and toning your abdomen muscles once again, Yoga can help you attain the same pre-baby, flat belly look.

Bond With Your Baby

Yoga is a great way for mothers to bond with their new babies. Babies love Yoga and their natural flexibility makes them exceptional Yogis. Furthermore, the soothing music and gentle movements of Yoga have a calming effect on babies.

Of course, the list of ways you and your baby can benefit from Yoga is a very long one…Just remember…There is no avoiding it! You must work to strengthen your core in order to reclaim your pre-baby physique.

The following video is just one example of how easy and fun it is to get your pre-baby body back through Yoga.

Yoga is a great way to introduce kids to the world of fitness. But, in today’s economy, the reality is that many well-meaning parents simply cannot afford to pay the extra bill for these classes. As a result, the kids miss out on a wonderful childhood experience that will stay with them throughout their adult lives.

But, it doesn’t have to be this way. You do not have to be rich to give your child the joy and confidence that comes from being part of a fitness class and learning a set of skills that will help him/her stay healthy, de-stress and find the inner peace necessary to live a happy life.

All you need to do is look within your community for cheap or even free Yoga classes for kids. For example, most YMCAs offer classes titled Y4K (Yoga for kids). Generally, the YMCA’s monthly fees are very affordable and they even have a hardship program designed to help families and youth who are experiencing financial difficulties.  Likewise, in some counties the free public libraries host a set of free classes for kids, including Yoga and meditation classes.

There are even clever businesses who offer free Yoga classes to their patrons. One of these businesses is Ruta Maya Coffee House in Austin Texas. Saturday mornings, between 10 and 11 a.m. you and your child can participate in a free family Yoga class for kids. And all you have to do to participate in the class is to invest in one of their coffee house coffees.

As a parent, you can even become super proactive and ask your child’s school to consider adapting a Yoga program, like the one being currently implemented in many Minneapolis Elementary School Districts.

The following video details the benefits of this innovative new Yoga program adapted by some Minneapolis Elementary School Districts.

It is never too early to start incorporating fitness into your child’s daily routine. Yoga is a safe and fun way to introduce your child to a lifetime of fitness. Children as young as five years old can be taught simple yoga workouts, stretches and meditations that they can build upon as they grow up.

Incorporating yoga into your family’s daily workout routine can help all of you become more fit, flexible and relaxed. That is because yoga is far more than just an exercise routine. It is a way for the mind to take some “timeout” and de-stress.

Marsha Wenig, a yoga instructor and author believes that, “doing yoga, children exercise, play, connect more deeply with the inner self, and develop an intimate relationship with the natural world that surrounds them. Yoga brings that marvelous inner light that all children have to the surface”.

The Health Benefits of Yoga for Kids

A series of new studies have shown that yoga is especially beneficial to children who seem to pick up on the natural rhythm of yogic postures and movements with greater ease than adults. Other studies have shown that yoga and regular deep relaxation techniques can help improve children’s concentration and school performance so much so that today many school districts are adapting innovative new yoga programs in an effort to limit behavior problems and improve overall student performance.