By Brittany Costa Published on Fix.com

This article is too good not to share! Exploring the affects of yoga on metabolism.

In the world of fitness, there are tons of ways to get moving, sweating, and burning calories. Unfortunately, it can sometimes feel like an overwhelming task to find a workout that is not only good for the body, but for the spirit and mind as well. Yoga is a great way to shape muscles and allow the mind to relax – but can it really burn calories and increase the rate of your metabolism?

Spirit and Strength: Yoga Then and Now

Yoga is a combination of mental, spiritual, and physical practices aimed at strengthening the union between body and mind. Some of the earliest accounts of yoga date back more than 5,000 years, with practice in the East focused on the mental and spiritual aspects. It has only recently been introduced into Western culture with an increased emphasis on the physical practice.

The term yoga, derived from the Sanskrit word for “yoking,” is associated with uniting the mind, spirit, and body into one. It is based on breath control, meditation, and specific physical postures aimed at promoting overall health and relaxation. With yoga, we begin to melt away stress, release tension, and increase bliss. While conventional exercise guidelines are helpful for day-to-day functionality, in yoga there’s often a greater connection between the body and mind. This awareness and attention to each and every movement helps yogis create lean muscle and lose excess weight.

The idea that yoga is used only as a stress reliever is a prevalent myth, but flowing from pose to pose can also boost metabolism, helping to burn more calories throughout the day. Read on to learn how to tap into yoga’s many benefits, including the ability to rev up calorie burn.

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