Why Practice Yoga?

According to the nonprofit Yoga Alliance, the health and fitness benefits of yoga are now being confirmed by scientific research. Yoga's central premise is "everything is connected," and its benefits are far-reaching.

Stress and pain relief are two of the benefits of yoga, Rossiter said, noting that yoga reduces the physical effects of stress on the body by encouraging relaxation and lowering the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Related benefits are the lowering of blood pressure and heart rate, improving digestion and boosting the immune system, along with easing symptoms of anxiety, depression, fatigue, asthma and insomnia, she said.

According to Yoga Alliance, studies have shown that practicing yoga postures also reduces pain for people with conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and auto-immune diseases, as well as arthritis, back and neck pain and other chronic conditions.

Here's what else the Alliance says about yoga:

-- Yoga can lead to better breathing and flexibility, teaching people to take slower, deeper breaths, helping to improve lung function and triggering the body's relaxation response. Yoga helps to improve flexibility and mobility, increasing range of movement and reducing aches and pains.

-- Yoga increases strength. Yoga asanas use every muscle in the body, helping to increase strength from head to toe. Muscular tension is also relieved by yoga.

-- Yoga can aid weight control efforts by reducing cortisol levels and by burning excess calories and reducing stress. It also encourages healthy eating habits and provides a heightened sense of well being and self esteem.

-- Yoga helps to improve circulation and more efficiently moves oxygenated blood to the body's cells.

-- Even gentle yoga practice can provide cardiovascular benefits by lowering resting heart rate, increasing endurance and improving oxygen uptake during exercise.

-- Yoga helps to improve body alignment, resulting in better posture and helping to relieve back, neck, joint and muscle problems.

-- Yoga helps individuals to focus on the present, to become more aware and to help create mind-body health. It opens the way to improved coordination, reaction time and memory.