Yoga can be helpful to our health in many aspects EXCEPT [originaltext] We ha

We have tended to view Yoga as a kind of exotic religious exercise but in fact from a medical standpoint, the age-old set of exercises known in the West as "yoga" offers a significant variety of proven health benefits. (14) It increases the efficiency of the heart and slows the respiratory rate, improves fitness, lowers blood pressure and reduces stress. It also serves to improve coordination, posture, flexibility, concentration and digestion. A typical session includes three disciplines: breathing exercises, body postures, and meditation. Each session usually begins with a set of gentle warm-up exercises. The teacher will then ask you to focus on your breathing, and may take you through several breathing exercises. At the very least, you will be asked to breathe through your nose, evenly through your nostrils. Then it’s on to the yoga postures, a series of poses that typically must be held for periods of a few seconds to several minutes. (15) As you assume the various postures, you will be asked to move gently, without jerking or bouncing. Breathing techniques remain important. You will need to focus on exhaling during certain movements and inhaling during others. You will be allowed to rest after every three or four postures, (16) and at the conclusion of the exercises, there is usually a period of rest or meditation.