Yoga Improves Joint Health…

The cartilage in joints such as the knee acts as a shock absorber and allows the bones to glide smoothly over one another. Functioning something like a sponge, this cartilage is nourished by synovial fluid, which is squeezed out with movement, allowing a fresh supply to be soaked up. If range of movement is limited, areas of the cartilage degenerate due to a lack of sustenance, and become unable to cushion the bones as they move. Along with increasing range of movement, asana practice can also help improve the alignment of bones, potentially reducing the wear and tear. By increasing the range of motion in a joint, and taking you out of familiar movement patterns – and the literal grooves in the joint surface that can result – there tends to be less wear and tear in any one area. (source: Timothy McCall, M.D.)