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Brought to you by<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>Deepak Chopra, MD,<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Alexander<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>Tsiaras, and TheVisualMD.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Between\u00a0work, raising a family, and coping with an uncertain economy, stress has become a \u201cnormal\u201d part of daily life for most people. That could explain why so many Americans\u2014about\u00a016 million<\/a>\u00a0at latest count\u2014have started taking yoga classes or doing yoga at home. This ancient practice, which started in\u00a0India\u00a0more than 4,000 years ago,\u00a0connects mind and body through a series of postures, breathing exercises, and meditation<\/a>. By stretching and toning the muscles, flexing the spine, and focusing the mind inward, yoga helps reduce stress. That can impact your overall health since stress plays at least some role in many illnesses. Studies show that\u00a0chronic stress<\/a>\u00a0doubles the risk of heart attack, for instance.<\/p>\n How yoga may promote health<\/strong>\u00a0Research into the health benefits of yoga is still in its infancy. But recent pilot studies point in promising directions. Yoga has been shown to\u00a0lower blood pressure and heart rate<\/a>, which can help reduce a person\u2019s risk of heart disease. There may be other heart benefits, too: A\u00a02006 study<\/a>\u00a0found that yoga helped lower cholesterol levels and improve circulation in people who have cardiovascular disease. Some hospitals have incorporated yoga into their\u00a0post-cardiac rehabilitation<\/a>\u00a0programs.<\/p>\n While the evidence of yoga\u2019s success in reducing a person\u2019s body mass is mixed,\u00a0one study<\/a>\u00a0did find that yoga can help people\u00a0lose weight\u00a0by leading them to a healthier lifestyle. The study reported that people who regularly practiced yoga started eating less, eating more slowly, and choosing healthier foods. They also showed fewer symptoms of eating disorders.<\/p>\n Many people report that yoga gives them an overall feeling of wellbeing. But research shows that it may also help alleviate specific kinds of pain, including\u00a0migraine headaches<\/a>,\u00a0lower\u00a0back problems<\/a>,\u00a0arthritis<\/a>, and\u00a0pain during childbirth<\/a>. Researchers are not sure what mechanism is at work, but\u00a0one theory<\/a>\u00a0is that the yoga postures work like the way massage works. When a yoga\u00a0posture\u00a0places pressure on a nerve fiber, the\u00a0signal for \u201cpressure\u201d\u00a0is\u00a0sent\u00a0quickly\u00a0to the brain via myelinated (insulated) nerve fibers, while\u00a0the signal for \u201cpain\u201d\u00a0reaches the\u00a0brain more slowly via less myelinated nerve fibers. The signal for \u201cpressure\u201d closes the receptor gate and shuts out the \u201cpain\u201d stimulus.\u00a0Another theory is that yoga causes an\u00a0increase in serotonin<\/a>, the body\u2019s natural anti-pain chemical.<\/p>\n While more research is needed into these areas, people who practice yoga have also reported that they experience\u00a0less insomnia and better digestive health<\/a>.\u00a0Pregnant women<\/a>\u00a0in particular seem to have an easier time sleeping when they do yoga. They are also less likely to develop high blood pressure or deliver prematurely.<\/p>\n Calming the mind<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Since\u00a0yoga involves the mind as well as the body, it\u2019s not surprising that it may help\u00a0reduce anxiety and depression<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>especially in people whose anxiety is related to an illness like cancer. More research is needed to learn exactly how yoga affects mood, but a\u00a02007 study<\/a>\u00a0may provide a clue: It found that in experienced yoga practitioners, a 60-minute yoga session increased levels of a neurotransmitter called GABA. Low levels of GABA have been linked to depression and anxiety disorders. Another pilot study suggests that yoga may influence depression by increasing the\u00a0alpha waves<\/a>\u00a0in the brain. Alpha waves are associated with relaxation. Yet another possibility is that yoga reduces the amount of cortisol, a hormone that the body releases in response to stress. Some scientists think chronic high levels of cortisol may be tied to depression as well as impaired immune function.<\/p>\n If the potential health benefits of yoga aren\u2019t enough to make you want to try it, consider this: Yoga can also make you look more toned and fit and help you\u00a0move with greater ease<\/a>, especially\u00a0as\u00a0you grow older. A\u00a02007 study<\/a>\u00a0of the Hatha yoga style showed that it increased muscular strength, flexibility, and endurance. It\u2019s no wonder that many athletes use yoga to\u00a0cross-train<\/a>.<\/p>\n Getting started<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>You\u00a0don\u2019t need a lot of expensive equipment or to be in tiptop shape to start practicing yoga. All it takes is loose clothing, a mat (some classes will provide mats), and the desire to learn.<\/p>\n There are several different styles of yoga. Most use a series of postures designed to stretch and strengthen muscles and also use controlled breathing to quiet your mind. The\u00a0most popular<\/a>\u00a0style in the\u00a0U.S.\u00a0is Hatha yoga, a relatively slow-moving, gentle style. Other styles such as\u00a0Ashtanga\u00a0(also known as power yoga) are more vigorous. Find out about the different kinds of yoga that are offered at classes in your area. Choose the style that fits your goals and level of fitness. You can also get started by using a good instructional book or DVD at home, although it\u2019s useful for beginners to start with a class. If you are pregnant or have any serious health conditions, talk to your doctor before you begin. Once you start a class, let your teacher know about any injuries or health issues.<\/p>\n Whichever style of yoga you choose, take it slowly at first. Don\u2019t try to force yourself into difficult poses at the beginning. After a while, you will develop more flexibility, strength, and stamina. Your teacher shouldn\u2019t push you to do poses that aren\u2019t comfortable. If your teacher is going too fast, talk to him or her,\u00a0or\u00a0look for a class that is a better fit.<\/p>\n While yoga won\u2019t cure everything that ails you\u2014or make your boss nicer\u2014it will help you deal with stress better. And that could make a big difference in your overall health.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Learn more about the benefits of exercise:<\/p>\n