Part I - Introduction
Non-strenuous exercise is generelly beneficial for body and mind. From organizations such as the Heart and Stroke Foundation, we learn that lack of physical activity (usually combined with poor nutrition) increases our risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and cancer.
The American College of Sports Medicine estimates that 250 000 deaths in the USA could be prevented by regular exercise. Such exercise also helps burn off excess calories. Of course, some exercises are more healthy than others. For example, downhill skiing may have the highest rate of causing bone fractures. Other activities may overstress a particular part of the body leading to conditions like tennis elbow.
Considering these factors, hatha yoga exercises, when done properly as 'prescribed', are easily the best system of physical activity beneficial to every cell, organ and system in the human body. Hatha yoga benefits both the cardiovascular and lympathic systems. As the lympathic system does not have a heart to help pump its loads of poisonous substances, hatha yoga exercises work to support the lymphs, preventing them from becoming stagnant or obstructed, keeping the lymphatic system in best shape for our immune-response.
Also, asanas should be combined with nutritional support and/or herbal remedies for optimum health improvement as it is done in Ayurveda the traditional healing system from India.
The degree of flexibility one can gain for one's tendons, muscles and spine is quite obvious when we watch someone perform hatha yoga asanas. Never strain, over-stretch, sqeeze air in your lungs, ignore warning signs like pain or go against the advice of your hatha yoga teacher. Set up a regular practice schedule. Regularity makes practice easier and requires less effort in the long run.
Advanced hatha yoga practitioners may be interested in more specific health benefits of a particular asana. You will find a list of asanas with their suggested, possible benefits in part II and part III
Part I - Introduction (this page)
Part II - asanas
with specific health benefits
Part III - health
problems which respond well to hatha yoga
especially when combined with other natural remedies including herbs and proper nutrition.
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