Yoga - THE MIND-BODY BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL FITNESS

Author

THE MIND-BODY BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL FITNESS

Dr. Jai Maharaj

2006-01-04, 6:03 pm

THE MIND-BODY BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL FITNESS

Forwarded message:

[ Subject: The Mind-Body Benefits of Physical Fitness
[ From: "Fidyl" <fidyl@yahoo.com>
[ Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005

The Mind-Body Benefits of Physical Fitness

Exercise can help combat stress and potential illness

(ARA) - Stress from traffic, cell phones and balancing
work/life is so pervasive today that it has become a
driving force behind rising healthcare costs.

In a six-year study of more than 46,000 workers,
depression and unmanaged stress emerged as the costliest
risk factors in terms of medical expenditures. And,
according to the American Institute of Stress, 75 to 90
percent of all doctor visits are stress-related.

When someone is under stress, adrenaline pours into the
blood stream as part of our "fight or flight" response
and muscles throughout the body tense in anticipation of
a challenge. Immediate effects can range from a short
temper to difficulty sleeping; long-term effects can be
even more dangerous.

While impossible to eliminate stress from modern life,
one can control the effect it has on the mind and body.
People with increased levels of anxiety and nervous
tension need to develop effective ways of coping with
stress.

"Regular physical activity can help counter the
potentially damaging effects of stress on the body and
may help prevent stress-related illnesses," says John
McCarthy, executive director of the International Health
Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). "These
activities provide a natural way to release tension in
the body and will often lead to an automatic state of
relaxation that naturally follows a good workout."

The link between mind and body was accepted in ancient
India, the birthplace of yoga, thousands of years ago. It
has taken a while for Western fitness experts to embrace
the idea, however, the concept of holistic health and
fitness is rapidly gaining popularity and acceptance. In
a survey of health clubs belonging to IHRSA, twenty-three
percent offer classes specifically geared to wellness and
stress reduction.

In health clubs across the country, the trend is moving
away from classes focusing simply on muscle and
cardiovascular training to ones that include overall
wellness and whole-body maintenance. Over the past few
years, more and more people have discovered the benefits
of workouts that stimulate the emotions as well as the
muscles.

Classes such as yoga, Pilates and martial arts fill up as
quickly as health clubs put them on the schedule.
According to IHRSA, participation in yoga classes at U.S.
health clubs increased by 200 percent between 1998 and
2000.

This mind-body approach appeals to individuals at all
different fitness levels. Consumer research shows that an
impressive number of American health club members cite
holistic motivations for working out. Better-than-half
(54%) said that when they exercised regularly, they feel
like they have their overall act together, while 38
percent said that when they do not exercise regularly,
they just don�t feel right.

Top 5 Non-Physique Related Reasons for Exercise

(Base: Americans who participate in physical activities
at least occasionally; % say primary reason for exercise)

1. For fun/enjoyment (49%)

2. To prevent health problems (36%)

3. To reduce stress/tension (31%)

4. To relax (30%)

5. To help with current medical problems (27%)

"As more and more health clubs offer programs that
benefit the mind as well as the body, it has become much
easier to find a place to practice tai chi, yoga, Pilates
and more," notes McCarthy. "I think people who have not
visited a health or fitness club lately will be surprised
by the variety of classes available at their local gym."

In many cases, clubs now offer classes to non-members for
a small fee.

Courtesy of ARA Content

End of forwarded message from http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Yoga-With-Nancy

Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti

Hindu Holocaust Museum
http://www.mantra.com/holocaust

Hindu life, principles, spirituality and philosophy
http://www.hindu.org
http://www.hindunet.org

The truth about Islam and Muslims
http://www.flex.com/~jai/satyamevajayate

The terrorist mission of Jesus stated in the Christian bible:

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not so send
peace, but a sword.
"For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the
daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in
law.
"And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
- Matthew 10:34-36.

o Not for commercial use. Solely to be fairly used for the educational
purposes of research and open discussion. The contents of this post may not
have been authored by, and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the
poster. The contents are protected by copyright law and the exemption for
fair use of copyrighted works.
o If you send private e-mail to me, it will likely not be read,
considered or answered if it does not contain your full legal name, current
e-mail and postal addresses, and live-voice telephone number.
o Posted for information and discussion. Views expressed by others are
not necessarily those of the poster who may or may not have read the article.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This article may contain copyrighted material the use of
which may or may not have been specifically authorized by the copyright
owner. This material is being made available in efforts to advance the
understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic,
democratic, scientific, social, and cultural, etc., issues. It is believed
that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as
provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title
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profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included
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subscribing to USENET newsgroups or visiting web sites. For more information
go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
If you wish to use copyrighted material from this article for purposes of
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Since newsgroup posts are being removed
by forgery by one or more net terrorists,
this post may be reposted several times.

lorraine@selconsulting.fsnet.co.uk

2006-01-09, 12:56 pm

Thank you I thoroughly enjoyed reading this informative article!

Dr. Jai Maharaj wrote:
> THE MIND-BODY BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL FITNESS
>
> Forwarded message:
>
> [ Subject: The Mind-Body Benefits of Physical Fitness
> [ From: "Fidyl" <fidyl@yahoo.com>
> [ Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005
>
> The Mind-Body Benefits of Physical Fitness
>
> Exercise can help combat stress and potential illness
>
> (ARA) - Stress from traffic, cell phones and balancing
> work/life is so pervasive today that it has become a
> driving force behind rising healthcare costs.
>
> In a six-year study of more than 46,000 workers,
> depression and unmanaged stress emerged as the costliest
> risk factors in terms of medical expenditures. And,
> according to the American Institute of Stress, 75 to 90
> percent of all doctor visits are stress-related.
>
> When someone is under stress, adrenaline pours into the
> blood stream as part of our "fight or flight" response
> and muscles throughout the body tense in anticipation of
> a challenge. Immediate effects can range from a short
> temper to difficulty sleeping; long-term effects can be
> even more dangerous.
>
> While impossible to eliminate stress from modern life,
> one can control the effect it has on the mind and body.
> People with increased levels of anxiety and nervous
> tension need to develop effective ways of coping with
> stress.
>
> "Regular physical activity can help counter the
> potentially damaging effects of stress on the body and
> may help prevent stress-related illnesses," says John
> McCarthy, executive director of the International Health
> Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). "These
> activities provide a natural way to release tension in
> the body and will often lead to an automatic state of
> relaxation that naturally follows a good workout."
>
> The link between mind and body was accepted in ancient
> India, the birthplace of yoga, thousands of years ago. It
> has taken a while for Western fitness experts to embrace
> the idea, however, the concept of holistic health and
> fitness is rapidly gaining popularity and acceptance. In
> a survey of health clubs belonging to IHRSA, twenty-three
> percent offer classes specifically geared to wellness and
> stress reduction.
>
> In health clubs across the country, the trend is moving
> away from classes focusing simply on muscle and
> cardiovascular training to ones that include overall
> wellness and whole-body maintenance. Over the past few
> years, more and more people have discovered the benefits
> of workouts that stimulate the emotions as well as the
> muscles.
>
> Classes such as yoga, Pilates and martial arts fill up as
> quickly as health clubs put them on the schedule.
> According to IHRSA, participation in yoga classes at U.S.
> health clubs increased by 200 percent between 1998 and
> 2000.
>
> This mind-body approach appeals to individuals at all
> different fitness levels. Consumer research shows that an
> impressive number of American health club members cite
> holistic motivations for working out. Better-than-half
> (54%) said that when they exercised regularly, they feel
> like they have their overall act together, while 38
> percent said that when they do not exercise regularly,
> they just don?t feel right.
>
> Top 5 Non-Physique Related Reasons for Exercise
>
> (Base: Americans who participate in physical activities
> at least occasionally; % say primary reason for exercise)
>
> 1. For fun/enjoyment (49%)
>
> 2. To prevent health problems (36%)
>
> 3. To reduce stress/tension (31%)
>
> 4. To relax (30%)
>
> 5. To help with current medical problems (27%)
>
> "As more and more health clubs offer programs that
> benefit the mind as well as the body, it has become much
> easier to find a place to practice tai chi, yoga, Pilates
> and more," notes McCarthy. "I think people who have not
> visited a health or fitness club lately will be surprised
> by the variety of classes available at their local gym."
>
> In many cases, clubs now offer classes to non-members for
> a small fee.
>
> Courtesy of ARA Content
>
> End of forwarded message from http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Yoga-With-Nancy
>
> Jai Maharaj
> http://www.mantra.com/jai
> Om Shanti
>
> Hindu Holocaust Museum
> http://www.mantra.com/holocaust
>
> Hindu life, principles, spirituality and philosophy
> http://www.hindu.org
> http://www.hindunet.org
>
> The truth about Islam and Muslims
> http://www.flex.com/~jai/satyamevajayate
>
> The terrorist mission of Jesus stated in the Christian bible:
>
> "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not so send
> peace, but a sword.
> "For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the
> daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in
> law.
> "And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
> - Matthew 10:34-36.
>
> o Not for commercial use. Solely to be fairly used for the educational
> purposes of research and open discussion. The contents of this post may not
> have been authored by, and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the
> poster. The contents are protected by copyright law and the exemption for
> fair use of copyrighted works.
> o If you send private e-mail to me, it will likely not be read,
> considered or answered if it does not contain your full legal name, current
> e-mail and postal addresses, and live-voice telephone number.
> o Posted for information and discussion. Views expressed by others are
> not necessarily those of the poster who may or may not have read the article.
>
> FAIR USE NOTICE: This article may contain copyrighted material the use of
> which may or may not have been specifically authorized by the copyright
> owner. This material is being made available in efforts to advance the
> understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic,
> democratic, scientific, social, and cultural, etc., issues. It is believed
> that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as
> provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title
> 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without
> profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included
> information for research, comment, discussion and educational purposes by
> subscribing to USENET newsgroups or visiting web sites. For more information
> go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml
> If you wish to use copyrighted material from this article for purposes of
> your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the
> copyright owner.
>
> Since newsgroup posts are being removed
> by forgery by one or more net terrorists,
> this post may be reposted several times.