![\"duck-yoga\"](\"http:\/\/images1.blisstree.com\/files\/2009\/12\/duck-yoga.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIf you’ve never tried yoga before, make 2010 your year to finally give it a try. Yoga has several benefits, both mental and physical.<\/p>\n
If you’re feeling stressed, taking time out for a yoga session can work wonders for you. When you practice yoga, you’re living in the moment, focusing on your body or breathing, not demands of others or worrying thoughts that may cross your mind.<\/p>\n
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Yoga keeps you busy with poses that help make you stronger. You may not think that yoga can help you gain strength<\/strong>, but anyone who’s tried the downward-facing dog pose will argue with you! Many yoga poses give you the opportunity to use muscles that aren’t often worked very hard. In the end, you’ll gain strength and tone your muscles.<\/p>\n Practicing yoga may even help keep your heart healthy. New research<\/a> has shown that heart rate variability (beat-to-beat changes in heart rate) is higher in yoga practitioners than in non-practitioners. Heart rate variability is a sign of a healthy heart. Other studies<\/a> have shown that yoga, along with meditation, can reduce blood pressure and risk of heart disease. Yoga has also been proven effective for low back pain<\/a><\/strong>!<\/p>\n If you’ve always wanted to try yoga, but felt intimidated, just take a deep breath and walk into a beginner’s yoga class<\/strong> with your mat and some comfortable clothes. No one is going to watch you and make fun. They’ll all be busy concentrating on getting their own moves down. If it makes you feel better, take a place in the back so you don’t feel watched. Plus, you won’t always have to go to a class. Once you learn the basics, you should be able to practice at home. However, attending class is good motivation for some.<\/p>\n Are you going to try yoga this year?<\/p>\n (Image via stock.xchng<\/a>)<\/p>\n Post from: Blisstree<\/a><\/p>\n