People have been practicing yoga for more than 5,000 years. Nearly 11 million people in the U.S. alone have caught yoga fever and are regular practitioners. This makes yoga more of a lifestyle than a trend. Women in particular enjoy this type of exercise because it does not require them to be in a workout room alongside sweaty, beefed up men that cannot form complete sentences. In all seriousness, though, yoga benefits the female body in many ways.

Yoga classes in the Western world usually involve breathing and meditation techniques paired with physical poses called asanas. There are different styles of yoga, some of which focus on relaxation and others designed to work muscles and enhance body movement. Practitioners develop balance, strength, and flexibility. The health benefits from these are numerous and worth exploring in more detail.

Women who are older often worry that they are not fit enough to practice yoga. They think of stretching like a gymnast and believe they are unable to do it. In reality, it is never too late to improve flexibility.

Asanas safely stretch the muscles, releasing the buildup of lactic acid that causes fatigue, pain, tension, and stiffness. Muscle stretching can also increase the lubrication within the joints. The result is that the entire body feels fluid and at ease.

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