Fit to Print Volume 24 Issue 3 September 2015 | Page 19

Mind Body Spirit

by Karen Britton

Complete Wellness Package?
That Would Be Yoga
Yoga is an individualized practice, it's
not a one-size-fits-all class. Move to
your own degree, and if you don't
agree, you don't have to do the
posture. There are always
modifications, variations of poses to
suit one's needs.
When being instructed on proper body
alignment and muscle engagement we
increase flexibility. For example, in a
forward bend pose, you engage the
quadriceps, and this relaxes the
hamstrings. This engagement also
facilitates the “hinge” in the hips
making forward bends safer for the
back while strengthening the quads. As
you can see, you'll engage several
muscles during this pose alone.

Think of yoga as self-massage.
Resting in a bowl
A rainbow of fruits
Some rotten
always shall
Remain that way, never changing.
Compassion, love and peace these
Fruits of knowledge sit
side by side
Allowing all to be
Strength returns to body mind and spirit.
Complete wellness is achieved, and one
becomes strong.

Y

oga is a complete wellness
package. You build and heal the
physical body while creating
flexibility. Learn new ways of
thinking to achieve peace of mind.
Think of yoga as a self-massage. How do
you feel after getting a massage? That is
how you can feel after a class. Quality of
life improves not only for you, but for
those around you.
Yoga has several benefits. You do not
have to be flexible to start yoga. Yoga
makes you flexible. That's like saying I'm
not strong enough to lift weights. We
don't just walk into a gym, and all of a
sudden muscles appear; it takes time. I
frequently say this in the beginning of my
articles because it's one of the biggest
misconceptions. With patience, you will
increase flexibility, in body and mind.

Therefore, while engaging muscles we
tone the body using our own body
weight in the poses. Think of a spin
class; when you increase the resistance
and take it to the next level you're
building strength. Or adding weights
when lifting or extra plates when using
machines. You can do the same thing in
a yoga pose by creating awareness and
using your body to add resistance.
Remember, to your own degree. Like
the resistance dial on the bike, you
have the dial within to add resistence,
build strength, and increase muscle
definition.

yoga. In a class, you acquire the skil