Yoga Improves Posture…

Many back, neck, and other muscle and joint problems can be caused or made much worse by poor posture, something that yoga can very effectively improve. Think of your head as a big bowling ball, big and round and heavy. When that ball is balanced directly over an erect spine, it takes much less work for the neck and back muscles to support it than when it’s held several inches forward, a common postural habit….leading to back pain, headaches, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and even fatigue. Studies show poor posture leads to premature death; those with poor posture were 2.4 times more likely to die of conditions like heart attacks – which puts poor posture up there in line with the risks associated with smoking and high cholesterol. Your lungs have less room to expand if you are hunched over – which means you can’t bring as much oxygen into your body – the fuel your heart depends on. (Source: Timothy McCall, M.D.)