3 Reasons (and Tips) for Starting a Healthy Yoga Practice

3 Reasons (and Tips) for Starting a Healthy Yoga Practice

February 4, 2018

The combination of osteopathy and yoga can do wonders for your health. They both focus on bringing your body back into balance. In particular, focusing on alignment-based yoga and its connection to anatomy will prevent injury, build strength and flexibility, and increase your mobility.

Your osteopath should work closely with you to determine which movements and poses are most suitable to protecting your spine and keeping you injury-free whilst building lean strength.

Why you should start with daily, gentle yoga practice (and how to do it)

1. Stress. The core of a yoga practice is the breath. Just taking a half hour to one hour of your day to slow down and just breathe can make a big difference in your stress levels. Stress contributes one way or another to our level of health and well-being. It often affects our ability to sleep, which in turn affects our immune system, ability to heal, etc. Sometimes our health concerns causes us stress. Chicken and egg effect aside, it’s time to break the cycle.Tip: Combine your gentle at-home yoga practice with custom essential oils/ aromatherapy. L&L currently has a Valentine’s day aromatherapy promotion, so you can learn which scents can better help reduce your stress, improve your sleep, etc.
2. Strength to prevent injury and enhance movement. With a regular practice, you will effortlessly build lean strength from your core and muscles. Stronger quadriceps, for example, will help prevent knee pain while adding stability and improving movement.Tip: Start with Chair pose. Bend your knees aiming for your thighs to be parallel to the floor. Scoop your tailbone down while lifting your chest up. Look down and make sure you can see your toes beyond your knees. Take 5-8 deep, energizing breaths. Repeat as needed.
3. Flexibility and posture. Our sedentary lifestyles sitting in front of a computer at a desk is the biggest contributor to many health issues from headaches to lower back pain. Simply improving posture has a major effect on our health as it immediately improves your breathing. Being able to take in more air increases your energy levels and improves your mood. Flexibility makes your everyday tasks easier, from getting out of bed to playing with your kids.Tip: Stand with both feet parallel about hip’s width apart. Ground down all four corners of your feet and stand tall. Tuck your tailbone under and lift your heart up. Inhale extend your arms up, palms together. Exhale, keeping your feet grounded and hips square to the front, lean to your right feeling the stretch on your left side and extending your side body as much as you can. Hold for 5 to 8 breaths, repeat on the other side and again as needed.

About Osteo & Co

Osteo & Co a group of holistic and experienced, multi-lingual practitioners in Hong Kong who care about your health and well-being. Our therapists / practitioners work together to offer their tailored, caring and effective treatments. Learn more about Osteo & Co.