Expert Contributor by Kaitlin Battiste From the Top Dance
The Benefits of Yoga for Dancers Yoga is a useful tool that can be used for a variety of reasons, and there are many benefits to practicing it regularly. An old discipline that originated in India, yoga connects the body with the mind, and is known to improve both mental and physical health. It’s also a phenomenal supplement to dance, along with any other physical activity. If you do a quick online search, you’re sure to find a yoga practice to meet your personal needs and goals. There are numerous levels, styles, and of course, different ways yoga can be used, from stress relief and also to relieve upper body tension and back pain, and to gain strength and improve flexibility. If you’re new to yoga, you may wonder how it can impact more than just your physical health. Multiple studies have shown that it goes way beyond solely providing physical benefits to those
who practice it. Not only can it build strength and flexibility by incorporating movement with stretching, practicing yoga also helps you tap into your mind and relieve stress by implementing breathing and meditation techniques. Yoga encourages you to relax, slow your breath and focus on the present. Regular practice has also been shown to improve depression and increase your body’s serotonin, a hormone that helps regulate and optimize your mood, digestion, sleep, and more. As far as physical benefits go, the stretching involved in yoga can increase your flexibility and range of motion, improve your posture and relieve physical tension in the body. It increases blood flow to your muscles, which can improve circulation as well as prepare your muscles for other physical activity.
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Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors April 2021