Yoga reduces stress-there are stress responses that we cannot consciously control. In fact, most of our stress responses are not conscious. Yoga can help with those unconscious stress responses. You can use yoga to train your body to not release so much cortisol and other stress hormones when you are under stress. This is not something that you do consciously; it is just a bi-product of practicing yoga. You will also learn to reduce your breathing rate and control your cardiovascular responses. This can be practiced during times of stress. For example, if you are stuck in traffic, you can practice yoga breathing rather than burst into road rage.

Yoga will help you "tune in" to your body-as you begin to practice yoga you will become more "in tune" with the needs of your body. Researchers are currently conducting experimental studies to figure out why exactly this is. Even with out scientific results there are some logical reasons for this. Part of the practice of yoga includes focusing on your mind and on your body. As you learn to focus on your body, you will become more accustom to how your body feels and how it responds. Knowing how your body normally feels will allow you to quickly sense changes in your body and to react to those changes.

Yoga can be used to treat a variety of physical conditions-yoga is sometimes used as a holistic treatment to some stubborn physical problems. There are specific yoga classes that are aimed at easing the pain of arthritis and fibromyalgia. The stretching involved in yoga can loosen up stiff joints and improve circulation to afflicted parts of the body. There are also yoga practices that are aimed at asthma. Breathing exercises are an integral part of yoga and the respiratory benefits have been shown to help asthma sufferers. Yoga has been associated with relieve of symptoms from a wide variety of other ailments including heart disease, epilepsy, pms, and diabetes. Check and see what yoga can do for the ailments afflicting you.

Yoga is cheap and easy-one of the greatest reasons that you should do yoga is that you can get all of these terrific benefits for free or almost free. You can learn about yoga and yoga poses from the internet, videos, or books. Once you have learned some of the poses or breathing techniques, you can begin to practice them all by yourself and with no special equipment. You will probably decide that it is more fun to take a yoga class than to do it by yourself but the classes aren't that expensive. Check with local gyms, yoga studios or life-long learning centers and find yoga classes near you. You should be able to find a class for $50 or less per month.