Yoga: Stretch Knee Pose

Yoga improves strength, balance and flexibility.

Slow movements and deep breathing increase blood flow and warm up muscles, while holding a pose can build strength.

Tree Pose
Balance on one foot, while holding the other foot to your calf or above the knee (but never on the knee) at a right angle. Try to focus on one spot in front of you, while you balance for one minute. 

Yoga helps with back flexibility.

Yoga is as good as basic stretching for improved mobility. The American College of Physicians recommends yoga as a first-line treatment for chronic flexibility.

Cat-Cow Pose
Get on all fours, placing your palms underneath your shoulders and your knees underneath your hips. First, inhale, as you let your stomach drop down toward the floor. Then, exhale, as you draw your navel toward your spine, arching your spine like a cat stretching. 

Yoga benefits heart health.

Regular yoga practice may reduce levels of stress and body-wide inflammation, contributing to a healthy heart. Several of the factors contributing to heart disease, including high blood pressure and excess weight, can also be addressed through yoga.

Try it: Downward Dog Pose
Get on all fours, then tuck your toes under and bring your sitting bones up, so that you make a triangle shape. Keep a slight bend in your knees, while lengthening your spine and tailbone.

Yoga prepares the body for sleep.

Consistent bedtime yoga routine can help get in the right mindset and prepare the body to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Try It: Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose
Sit with your left side against a wall, then gently turn right and lift your legs up to rest against the wall, keeping your back on the floor and your sitting bones close to the wall. You can remain in this position for 5 to 15 minutes. 

Yoga provides energy.

Yoga helps manage stress. 

According to the National Institutes of Health, scientific evidence shows that yoga supports stress management, mental health, mindfulness, healthy eating, weight loss and quality sleep.

Yoga uses super cool yoga clothes.

When starting yoga, the muscles in your body may not be as flexible as a person might want, but in time, the muscles will conform to the stretching and doing more complex stretching will be easier each time. Yoga requires flexible clothing for a great fitness routine.

Yoga is super fun and healthy!