Not to sound like a drug commercial, but are you experiencing hormonal fluctuations, weight gain, sleep problems?  If you are having these symptoms, yoga might be the answer!

There is no doubt that yoga makes you feel better. Practicing the postures, breathing exercises and meditation makes you healthier in body, mind and spirit. Research shows that yoga helps manage or control anxiety, arthritis, asthma, back pain, blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, headaches, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, stress and other conditions and diseases. What’s more, yoga might help lower body fat. Here’s how yoga can help combat some common health issues.

Perimenopause. Research suggests that regularly doing yoga improved libido, mood, and craving control, all issues that are associated with perimenopause and menopause. Try this series of poses, or asanas, to relieve symptoms. Start in Downward Facing Dog, move to plank and finish with Chaturanga. If you are a beginner, you can modify these poses.

Sleep. Try these yoga poses to help you achieve nirvana in your pajamas. You can practice these poses before bed to improve the quality and quantity of sleep. Start with seated spinal twist, Goddess pose, Child’s pose and finish laying on your back with knees to chest, also known as Apanasana.

Weight gain. There is evidence to support the idea that yogis are, on average, 15 pounds lighter than those who don’t practice yoga. The reason may be related to improved stress management associated with yoga practice. Try the standing forward fold to help you minimize cravings that lead to weight gain.

Sore muscles. It doesn’t matter if your muscles ache from heavy lifting around the house or stepping your workout up a notch, yoga can help alleviate muscle soreness, caused by chemicals released into your body during intense activity. Try these poses for relief from sore muscles. Begin with a yogic breathing exercise like the Ocean Breath. After a few breathing exercises, try the Cow-Face and Sphynx poses.

There are many yoga poses that impart many benefits. If you haven’t tried yoga, you can get images, video and other important information at sites like Yogajournal.com. Always remember to start slowly and respect your body’s limitations.

Andrea Groth Wellbeing Detective

Andrea wants to live in a world where the neighborhoods are walkable, bike lanes are plentiful, and the food is fresh, delicious and readily available.

A 20-year veteran of the health and wellness industry, she started her career in the fitness industry while earning a master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, and then on to the burgeoning field of worksite wellness. Andrea has competed in collegiate level soccer, worked as a personal trainer, fitness instructor, wellness coach, and master trainer, climbed 14ers, and completed cycling centuries and metric centuries. All of these experiences give her the opportunity to view well-being from many different perspectives.
When she’s not helping others to be their healthiest self, you can find her at a farm to table restaurant, down dogging at the yoga studio, or experiencing the Colorado landscape on a bicycle, snowshoes, cross country skis or on foot.