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How Practicing Yoga Can Actually Fight Disease
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Yoga is a great exercise program for just about everyone as it needs no special equipment. Simply obtain a DVD or book with some basic yoga poses and then build on them as your experience and understanding grows.
One study showed that women who practiced yoga on a regular basis for at least two years had significantly lower levels of inflammation than women who only recently took up yoga. This study, performed at Ohio State, chose 50 women between the ages of 30 and 65 as their subjects. They had differing degrees of yoga experience; the first group had practiced yoga at least twice per week for a minimum of two years, and “novices” that had performed only between 6 and 12 sessions. These two groups were similar in terms of body fat and levels of physical fitness, as these are known factors for the influence of inflammation. Subjects underwent stressful tasks, then practiced yoga, after which, blood tests were taken and compared. The “novice” yoga participants had higher inflammation markers than the more experienced yoga “experts.”
Although researchers aren’t exactly sure why yoga would have this type of powerful effect on inflammation in the body, they believe it has to do with stress reduction.
SEE ALSO: Yoga For Beginners Infographic
These studies clearly show that yoga has considerable health benefits. With no known side effects, no barriers to beginning a program, and combined with an instructor, yoga can’t cause harm; it can only bring stress relief and health benefits. Although final studies need to be performed to understand why yoga works, the fact of the matter is, it does work, no matter your age, your weight, or your level of fitness. There is no good reason why you shouldn’t get started with some type of yoga program today!
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