The Benefits of Yoga Classes in the Winter Months By Brian Micheal Coleman

If you live in a cold weather state, during the winter it is difficult to get motivated to work out. This is why group fitness classes are so good, and yoga classes are the best to get you moving! Yoga classes are easier to bring yourself out of the warm comforts of home and keep you energized during the winter.

Yoga provides what I call group dynamics without the need to prove anything or keep up with anyone else. You get the benefits of being in a group with a teacher led class but you have no pressure to keep up like you would in a step aerobics class. Study after study proves that group fitness gets significantly better results than trying to do things alone.

The winter time does make most of us eat more, and not necessarily the best foods either! So by taking yoga, we not only gain flexibility and strength, but we also get a good level of calorie burning and cardio vascular training with. It is the best type of fitness workout there is for the total package of strengthening, stretching, and cardio.

During the winter the body tends to need more sleep and yoga has been researched to help people get people sleep. Many times people suffer from the inability to get lots of deep sleep and taking yoga classes allows them to sleep much better almost right away. The ability to help stretch and relax the body does wonders for the body, mind, and spirit during the cold seasons.

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One of the biggest benefits of taking yoga classes is that you can work at your own level. After a holiday season of Christmas and New Years parties, most of us have slipped in the food and exercise departments. Getting started back into a routine is difficult and a group setting is what makes yoga so much better than a typical gym membership.

Sometimes with bad winter weather it is required to stay home and work out. That becomes a very difficult task unless you have something portable like yoga! Throw your yoga DVD into the player and you can do at least most of what you did at class. Again, yoga is best done at a yoga studio with an instructor who can teach you if you are a beginner but doing it at home in between classes and when you can't make a class is a great way to keep to your fitness routine and goals. I have found the most successful people who really accomplish their New Years goals do it through yoga classes as opposed to all other types of fitness.

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Can Yoga Help Me Sleep If I'm Over 50? on yoga4meandyou.blogspot.com

Can Yoga Help Me Sleep If I'm Over 50?

By Suzanne Andrews

Causes of Insomnia

Stress is the number one cause of insomnia. Being stressed does not allow your mind to turn off at night, so you cannot reach the relaxation you need to obtain deep, healing sleep. Anxiety and depression also contribute to insomnia. Medical conditions such as chronic pain, GERD and breathing difficulties can keep you awake at night. Parkinson's and Alzheimer's patients often have problems sleeping. Taking stimulants such as caffeine or nicotine too close to bedtime can keep you from falling asleep. Disruptions to your life routine, such as a move or a change in employment, affects your sleep patterns

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Aging and Insomnia

As you age, insomnia often becomes more common. Sleep becomes less restful, due to increased sensitivity to noises or other environmental factors. Activity promotes a good night's sleep, so being less physically and socially active can contribute to insomnia. Health conditions that are common in older people, such as arthritis, menopausal symptoms and prostate problems, may keep you from getting the sleep you need.

Medications and Insomnia

Medications for high blood pressure such as alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors and diuretics may cause insomnia or broken sleep. Corticosteroids used to treat inflammation and conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and allergies often cause insomnia by stimulating the adrenals. SSRI antidepressants can cause agitation, impulsivity and insomnia. ARB's used to treat heart disease, statins for cholesterol and cholinesterase inhibitors for memory problems also list insomnia as a side effect. Seemingly harmless over-the-counter antihistamines and supplements, such as glucosamine-chondroitin, can prevent a good night's sleep.

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Combatting Insomnia with Yoga

Yoga is a gentle exercise routine that teaches relaxation and breathing techniques. It is especially suited to older women with less flexibility and strength. Studies have shown that yoga is an excellent remedy for insomnia, especially in those who live very stressful lives or are suffering with pain. The meditation element of yoga helps relax your mind and remove thoughts that are keeping you awake. The gentle stretches in yoga help reduce stress, pain and fatigue, and keep your body's symptoms in a state of optimum health. There are specific yoga poses that are especially helpful with insomnia. They include seated twist, breathing half lotus, corpse pose and reclining big-toe hold. A warm shower or hot bath beforehand helps further relax the muscles to make the poses more effective.

No matter what the cause for your insomnia, there is a yoga routine that can help you relax and have a more restful, deep sleep. Practice must be performed for 15 to 30 minutes every day to be most effective. No pills are required, and soon, you will no longer be crying out "Help me sleep tonight!"

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If you've ever pleaded to yourself, Help Me Sleep, PBS TV's Suzanne Andrews Help Me Sleep program is therapeutically designed to help you get to sleep and stay asleep. The AM active relaxation program is designed to help decrease stress and anxiety. The PM program includes a relaxing meditation with the Suzanne Andrews doctor recommended method to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. 

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