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Approaching
middle age and beyond, we complain about losing our youth, vitality,
and our firm and youthful-looking bodies. As we age, skin loses its
resilience and begins to wrinkle and sag. Before we know it, our face
is affected; excess skin gathers around our bellies and on the backsides
of our arms. It reminds us that if we don’t do something soon, we’ll
look much older than we feel.
Although
cosmetic surgery can restore our youthful appearance, it cannot reverse
again. We might look better, but it doesn’t improve health. An argument
can be made that improved appearance makes us “feel” better, but looking
good is; well, only an illusion of good health. There is no substitute
for actually being healthy.
Loss
of body tone is a natural phenomenon of again and goes beyond making
us look older. It impedes circulation and contributes to ill health.
There are many ways to counter the loss of body tone and improve circulation.
Most involve physical activities; such as running, jogging, racquet
sports, swimming, gym workouts, and so on. All are effective, yet not
everyone wants to be outside during inclement weather or have gym or
swimming pool access.
A principal impediment to maintaining a disciplined exercise program
is that the older we become, the more difficult is to maintain a regular
workout. The body resists and there is never enough time. It always
seems like more we need to exercise, the harder it is. Yet in order
for exercise to be effective, consistency over time is required.
When time is limited, we usually focus on one or two activities and
tend to “just do it” without an appropriate warm-up or cool-down. In
a best-case scenario, “just doing it” leads to boredom and a worse
case scenario leads to injury. Although cross training is essential
for maximizing physical health, we don’t make time for engaging in
multiple sporting activities much less take time for effective warming-up,
and cooling-down. This is when yoga becomes so advantageous.
Not
only is yoga a fabulous cross training tool for virtually all sports,
it is in itself, a total fitness package encompassing hundreds of different
exercises, both aerobic and non-aerobic. Yet yoga goes well beyond
athletics. Through its controlled and precise breathing; and through
its strengthening, stretching, and endurance building exercises, your
entire body is toned. Circulation is stimulated and the mind relaxes.
Yoga
especially affects fascia, which is the “bag that holds your body together.”
Fascia totally permeates your entire body. It encapsulates everything;
muscles, organs, glands, nerves, and it is also the “fabric” that lies
directly under your skin. When fascia loses resilience through again,
it contributes to sagging skin.
An
appropriate yoga practice therefore helps restore and maintain elasticity
of fascia and improves overall circulation - these mechanisms are further
explored in my website, www.extensionyoga.com
Therefore, when the fascia directly under your skin becomes more resilient,
your overlying skin responds and likewise, appears more vibrant.
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