Losing the battle of the bulge and feeling like you've tried everything but just can't achieve your ideal body image? Consider yoga.

Yoga is a system of ethical principles, breathing exercises, postures, meditation and prolonged concentration. It is much more than an exercise; it's an ancient art. While early forms of yoga can be traced to ancient Egypt, written forms of yoga date back to around 250 B.C. in India.

There are many benefits achieved by practicing yoga. It helps calm the nervous system, alleviates arthritis, improves prostate health, stimulates the blood flow from the brain and reduces stress.

Yoga may be deeply rooted in Hinduism, but is in no way a religion.

"For me, it's a wonderful complement to my Christian faith," explains registered yoga instructor Elika Aird. "Yoga is something that accentuates or helps to deepen my spiritual awareness in my Christian faith. I don't have any kind of dedication to any specific gods or goddesses. You can practice yoga and be a Christian, Buddhist, Catholic or anything. They all have the main focus of having freedom and a connection with a divine source."

There are many levels of yoga, ranging from rigorously complex to comfortably simple. From heavier frames to arthritis sufferers, there is a form of yoga that can benefit all body types. Expecting mothers are also enjoying yoga's many benefits.

"It relieves a host of issues that pregnant women face like heaviness in the abdomen [and] backaches," says Aird. "It also helps to improve breathing, reduce swelling and nausea and helps women feel more confident with their body image, and also gives them the strength and ability to know that they can birth their children naturally if they choose." - adam jones

For more information on the benefits of yoga, send inquiries to Elika Aird at blissfulbodies@bellsouth.net

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