44 The QUEE NS Courier • wellnes • april 21, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com WELLNESS s Relax your way into better health By Sam Erickson Most Americans have heard about yoga, and yoga studios have blossomed across the country, particularly in large cities. For some, though, yoga is still a pretty foreign concept. For those looking to build a life around fitness or develop a new form of exercise to complement an existing regimen, yoga provides a series of benefits unavailable through any other exercise form. The most obvious benefits of yoga are that it will help you stretch and reduce stress. Stretching is great for people who are regularly physically active in other realms, and there are even classes particularly designed for people who bike or train for marathons or longer runs. Stress reduction is something that many Americans sorely need, and it is a primary goal of yoga. Yoga emphasizes a need to be present and not worry about the future and the past. Chronic stress is a major contributor to disease, so reducing stress can reduce or eliminate the effects of other long-term diseases. A central focus of yoga is mindfulness of the body. Yoga teachers will frequently remind students to pay attention to small parts of the body like wrists or muscles in the face. This mindfulness, many have found, continues outside of the class and can help people with things like their eating habits. Instead of scarfing through a big plate of pizza, eat- ing mindfully can help people reduce the amount they eat while helping them to focus on healthier foods. This compounds the weight loss benefit many realize from regular yoga practice. There are many different kinds of yoga practiced in the United States today. Some involve relatively little physical exertion and focus more on stretching while others are very vigorous. If you are considering starting a yoga practice, talk to someone at the yoga studio to see what level is right for you. You will be much more likely to continue the practice if you take a class that is appropriate for your level. Yoga is one of a very few activities that can count as aerobic activity and muscle-building, both of which are essential for a complete routine for healthy living. Along with stretching muscles, yoga encourages people to push their limits in a relaxed way, something unique to the system. This can lead to increased endurance. Because yoga takes place in many different positions, it engages the entire body in such a way that no single muscle group is worked to the point of complete exhaustion. Yoga also offers the opportunity to develop muscle memory. The benefits outlined here are just a few of the many mental, physical and emotional benefits ascribed to yoga. A good yoga class engages a person on many different levels and offers a place where an individual can feel comfortable and challenged to improve. For that reason and many others, yoga is a unique form of exercise that is growing in popularity throughout the country. GENTLE HANDS HOME CARE For Certified Care Givers Give Us A Call! Full-Time • Part-Time Live-In or Live-Out WEEKEND CARE Day & Night Care Licensed • Insured • Bonded We Accept CDPAP, Which Allows You To Earn A Salary While Caring For Your Loved One Call: 347-809-4407 Call: 347-809-4407 or 718-480-6472 ‘We cover New York’ Email: [email protected] Visit: gentlehandshomecare.net 92-11 172nd St., Flr. 2, Jamaica, NY 11433 Email: [email protected] Visit: gentlehandshomecare.net AWARD WINNING SHORT-TERM REHABILITATION! of the 2013 THE QUEENS QueensCourier.com Little Neck Care Center OUR SERVICES: • Newly Renovated Facility • State-of-the-Art Rehabilitation • 24-Hour Nursing Care • Onsite Wound Care and IV Therapy • Post-Surgical and Joint Replacement • Pain Management • 24-Hour On-Call Physicians • We Speak a Variety of Languages AMENITIES: • Spacious, Bright and Modern Rooms • Flat Screen TVs And WiFi • Recreational Activities • Beauty/Barber Services • Daily Laundry and Housekeeping • Newspaper and Mail Services • 24/7 Security • Concierge Services New Orthopedic Rehabilitation Program Led By Our Orthopedic Surgeon www.LittleNeckCareCenter.com 260-19 Nassau Blvd., Little Neck, NY 11362 Tel. 718-423-6400 • Fax 718-428-0737 ACCEPTING MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND MOST HMOs
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