Chicago YogaWorks

Physiology

Nervous System
Nerves from the brain and spine go to every tissue in the body and therefore the health of every tissue in the body depends upon the health of the brain and spine. Yoga promotes the health of the spine and nervous system to maintain vitality and function of all organs and glands. Yoga also causes an increase in circulation to the brain, which stimulates the brain's nerve cells. This results in increased vitality and improved brain function (intelligence and memory).

Glands
The most important glands of the body are the pituitary, pineal, thyroid, adrenal, and pancreas glands. The pituitary and pineal glands are in the brain, the thyroid is in the neck, and the adrenals and pancreas are in the solar plexus. These glands secrete powerful hormones to control your growth, weight and size. They also determine your metabolism, vitality, and emotional state. Yoga postures maintain the health and function of the glands to promote well-being of the body. The headstand maintains the health of pituitary and pineal glands located in the brain. The shoulder stand is specific for the thyroid gland and can reduce or alleviate thyroid gland problems.  Twist postures stimulate the adrenal glands to release extra energy and boost vitality level. They also maintain adrenal gland function and the glands ability produce a variety of hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisone that are important in controlling stress and immunity.

Internal Organs
Yoga massages, stimulates, and sends oxygenated blood to internal organs to promote long lasting health and function.

Digestive System
As we age, digestive system function gradually becomes less efficient. Yoga improves blood and nerve supply to the digestive and eliminative systems to maintain vitality and function. Yoga postures contract, stretch, and massage the digestive organs.

Joints 
Movement and stretching of joints increases the secretion of synovial fluid. This provides for lubrication of the joint which reduces stiffness, maintains mobility, and prevents and controls arthritis.

Skin
Stretching of the skin during yoga stimulates the skin cells. This results in firmer, healthier skin, that minimizes wrinkles during the aging process.

Flexibility
Increased flexibility helps the body move with ease. Yoga develops long, lean, and fluid muscles that promote movement with greater range of motion. Flexibility of the body reduces pain and the risk of strain and injury.

Mental Focus
Yoga utilizes physical postures and breathwork to bring awareness to the body, breath, and mind. This awareness increases focus and teaches the discipline of being present in the moment. Applying these yoga skills and disciplines outside of the yoga classroom, provides for increased mental focus and concentration in all aspects of life. As a result yoga promotes improvement in work, relationships, and daily activities, which intern brings more happiness.

Strength

Physical postures utilize your own body weight to engage muscles and build strength. The effort made to lift and hold your body engage many major and minor muscle groups and cause them to work simultaneously.  Multiple muscle groups working simotaneously together promote strength of the entire body, instesd of isolation of one or two muscle groups in traditional weight training exercises. This promotes a greater sense of strength and allows the whole body to feel stronger as a unit. The body finds a sense of strength from a centered, connected place that provides for strong, effortless movement in any activity.

Stress
One of the most significant benefits of yoga is its ability to reduce stress.  When the body feels stress it holds onto it in all parts of the body, including the neck, back, hamstrings, stomach, and head. Tense muscles, caused by stress, decrease flexibility and energy and increase pain and risk of injury. Yoga helps release stress in the body and mind to reduce chronic conditions, promote relaxation, and increase health and well-being.

Ant-ageing
Yoga increases the antigens present in the body to enhance its ability to fight disease. This results in greater immunity as well as fewer toxins in the body. A healthy, disease free body promotes healthier cells and function. This slows the amount of dying cells within the body and encourages the growth of healthy cells, which slows the ageing process. Healthy cells keep the body functioning and balanced on the inside. Yoga's gentle approach to the body also prevents wear and tear of muscles, which maintains tone providing healthy skin and a youthful appearance on the outside.

Health Benefits

Western science has been studying Yoga for nearly 50 years, and the evidence shows numerous physical and psychological benefits from Yoga. Studies in the United States and India also indicate that Yoga can reduce as well as alleviate many health conditions.