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If you’re a passionate yoga practitioner, you’ve probably noticed the benefits of yoga. Maybe you’re sleeping better or getting fewer colds or just feeling more relaxed and at ease. But if you’ve ever tried telling a newbie about the benefits of yoga, you might find that explanations like “It increases the flow of prana” or “It brings energy up your spine” fall on deaf or skeptical ears.
As it happens, Western science is starting to provide some concrete clues as to how yoga works to improve health, heal aches and pains, and keep sickness at bay. Once you understand them, you’ll have even more motivation to step onto your mat, and you probably won’t feel so tongue-tied the next time someone asks you why you spend time on your mat.
Despite images of ultra-bendy yogis that you see splashed across social media and on marketing materials, you don’t need to be a contortionist to have a robust yoga practice. In fact, science has shown that flexibility might have as much to do with genetics as it does about the health of your tissues, muscles, and joints. Still, if you are looking to increase your mobility, work toward more advanced postures, and feel better in your body overall, try yoga for flexibility.
The benefits of flexibility
There are many reasons why it’s important to build and maintain flexibility and not just for your physical health. Here are just a few benefits:
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