It’s Yoga Time!

Like many, I want a simple method of working out to get my body and mind in sync. Being a senior lady, I thought yoga might be a good way to get in shape. To me, it looks more gentle than all that Zumba jumping around that I can no longer do. I have been procrastinating for years, but now I am ready to get my health in order. Since I am researching yoga for myself, and since I have a blog, and since there are yoga accessories in my shop, I figured I might as well share my research findings with all of you in a blog post!

My findings were that yoga offers physical and mental benefits for people of all ages. As well, I read many stories about how for people going through an illness, recovering from surgery, or living with a chronic condition, yoga can become an integral component in healing therapies.

9 Benefits of Yoga

On the Johns Hopkins Medicine website, I found a great post about the 9 Benefits of Yoga.  In this excerpt I’ve listed the 9 benefits in just one line each. The original post I’m quoting from has more info about each benefit and is a great read – click here to read the whole post on the Johns Hopkins Medicine website.

1. Yoga improves strength, balance and flexibility

2. Yoga helps with back pain relief

3. Yoga can ease arthritis symptoms

4. Yoga benefits heart health

5. Yoga relaxes you, to help you sleep

6. Yoga can mean more energy and brighter moods

7. Yoga helps you manage stress

8. Yoga connects you with a support community

9. Yoga promotes better self-care.

While I browsed the site I also came across their Wellness and Prevention page which has lots of info on topics centered around both improving our health general and as we age specifically – if you are looking for some more info on healthy living and aging, that section is a great one to check out!

Benefits of Exercise

Exercise can strengthen bones, provide positive effects on mood, and help prevent chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. I have a vested interest in improving my health to prevent the onsurge of diabetes, since it is a dominant disease in my family’s medical history. Staying fit with healthy eating, exercise and wellness habits can help prevent me from getting diabetes, despite my family’s medical history. My mother, grandparents, uncles and many relatives all had or have this particular illness. Some have had kidney, and some succumbed to complications arising from their diabetes. Some of these complications might have been avoided through positive health habits…I want do what I can to stay healthy.

I believe the best gift you can give to yourself and your family is to maintain your own good health as long as possible.

It is said that life expectancy can increase by 7 years by exercising, and I want every minute to live and enjoy life for myself and with my daughter, my grandchildren, my relatives and friends. For me, yoga is a gentle yet effective way to keep my aging mind and body tuned up.

Why I Chose to Offer Custom Yoga Mats in the Liz Daniel Emporium on Zazzle

I was thinking about my family and health and how I want to age. I. want myself and others to never have to go through the complications associated with diabetes, or to be on a waiting list for a kidney transplant. I don’t want to lose any more loved ones to this disease. And that is why I was inspired to design things that encourage positive health habits, like yoga mats and water bottles.

I designed these yoga mats to encourage us all to adopt healthy habits (such as yoga!) for both mind and body. I also designed them to be customizable, so you can change the design of the yoga pad to fit your personality, using Zazzle’s easy editing tools to upload your own photo if you so desire. Whatever motivates you to keep going and stay healthy is a good thing! 

Exercise is one of the keys to living longer, feeling better, having more energy, and for general wellbeing. So let’s do yoga and stay healthy – it’s yoga time!

BEFORE DOING ANY YOGA OR EXERCISE PROGRAM SEEK THE ADVICE OF A MEDICAL DOCTOR.