Practicing Yoga For Skeletal Health

Yoga has been used as a practice for furthering the health of mind, body and spirit for more than 5,000 years. Although yoga originated in the east, its appearance and place in western culture has increased in recent years. It has become a regular part of health and exercise routines for busy moms, earth-loving hippies and professional athletes alike. The benefits of regular yoga practice are many, but yoga for skeletal health is one of the most important and often overlooked reasons for practicing yoga.
When we think of getting into shape and being physically healthy, we usually think about toning and shaping our muscles, keeping off extra weight and maintaining the shape of our outward physiques, which yoga can certainly help us do. We don't always think about our bones, our spine and our skeletal system. Yet, our skeletal system is what holds the rest of it together. When things go wrong in our spine and joints, it's like falling apart from the inside out.
Let's explore some of the ways yoga practice can help the body stay structurally aligned so everything else can keep doing its beautiful job.
Yoga Helps Maintain Bone Density
The bones in the body contain living tissues that need to be built and replenished in order to be healthy. Regular yoga practice has been shown to increase the density and mass of the bones, giving the bones a better chance of staying strong and guarding against osteoporosis. Focus on tree pose, bridge pose or any triangle poses to help build bone strength.
Yoga Improves the Flow of Fluids in the Joints

In order for joints to work properly, they need to produce a fluid called synovial fluid. Regular practice of yoga poses promote the flow and production of this fluid in the body creating joint mobility and healthy cartilage for an active, healthy lifestyle. No one likes being slowed down by achy joints. Try sun salutations to stimulate the production and flow of needed fluids for the joints.
Yoga Strengthens the Supporting Muscles around the Joints
Yoga poses that target balance and stability cause the smaller stabilizer muscles around the joints to kick in and strengthen themselves. Strong stabilizer muscles around the joints protects them from misuse and injury during activity and movement in everyday life. Focus on chair pose, tree pose, eagle pose and star pose for building the supporting muscles around the joints.
Yoga Improves Posture
Regular practice of yoga poses is one of the best ways to align and lengthen the spine. It also strengthens the core and brings awareness to the way we are holding our bodies. Many people who practice yoga regularly report having increased awareness of their posture in other daily activities. Try bridge pose, boat pose, mountain pose and forward bends for good posture.

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