Yoga's Benefits Spur Growth of Yoga Retreats

Yoga is an ancient system of stretching exercises that is great for people like acrobats who want to increase their balance and flexibility - right?

While technically true, the above statement fails to do justice to the value and benefits that yoga can provide to practically everyone, not just acrobats. Here are the effects that yoga can have on different aspects of fitness and health:

Strength: While one of the most visible effects of practicing yoga is increased range of motion in all the body's joints, anyone who has been through a session knows that it makes muscles stronger as well as more flexible. And rather than focusing on the "show" muscles you'd want to have to pose for a magazine cover, yoga develops the hidden core muscles that actually allow your body to function effectively, increasing intrinsic strength and improving posture.

Coordination: Balance is one aspect of coordination, but all day long our muscles are working together to facilitate movement. And, like people working together, they can compete or cooperate. By training the muscles to coordinate their efforts smoothly, yoga practice helps you glide effortlessly through the exertions involved in everyday life.

Cardiovascular health: Breathing powers the whole body and is the central function of the cardiovascular system. Yoga involves conscious breathing practice, something that helps to energize and regulate all the body's systems. Deep breathing also plays a key role in the immune system by circulating the body's lymph fluid.

Neurological health: Breathing is also the link between the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. The breathwork and meditation involved in yoga promote neurological health, which is key for maintaining overall physical and emotional well being.

Despite its public visibility, yoga is still a relatively small but growing practice in the US. It continues to gain in popularity, largely due to the availability of helpful free resources, such as the Yoga Journal Website: http://www.yogajournal.com/.

Many skilled and dedicated teachers are also doing their part to help yoga spread. One example is Kathryn Budig, with her 21 Day Yoga Challenge: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/27/yoga-journal-21-day-challenge_n_1236168.html

One way of enjoying the stress-reducing benefits of yoga that is growing in popularity is yoga retreats and vacations. While traditional vacations often leave you feeling exhausted, yoga vacations actually energize and rejuvenate, the way a vacation is supposed to. Yoga retreats are increasing in popularity each year, and are becoming a popular choice for health aware travelers. There are even companies that are growing to specialize in this type of health enhancing retreat.

Elena Bernardi, Yoga Teacher and Italy travel specialist, is the founder of Italy Yoga Retreats. For information about custom made yoga vacation packages in Italy, visit them on the web at http://www.italyyogaretreats.com/ or call 1-800-380-0014.