Chiropractic Care and Yoga Can Be a Great Team
By Paul Rothbart
It's important to take care of both mind and body. Exercise, sleep, and eating well help maintain a healthy body. Good nutrition and sleep, along with stress management practices, and perhaps meditation are excellent for mental health. A discipline that combines caring for the mind and body would be ideal. Fortunately, such disciplines do exist. One of them is yoga. Another that you may not expect is chiropractic care which may have many benefits for the mind and body. Now, combine yoga with chiropractic care and you have a team that just might keep you at your healthiest.
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that dates back to ancient India. It has become quite popular in the western world as a form of exercise and meditation. Yoga involves poses that put the body through gentle stretches while breathing deeply and clearing the mind. At more advanced levels, it can be quite a workout. Yoga strengthens the entire body while improving flexibility and range of motion. The breathing and meditation component is very good for mental health. Many practitioners find themselves less stressed, less likely to experience depression, and better able to handle the ups and downs of everyday life.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is about much more than just fixing a sore back. Much like yoga, it is a natural, whole-body approach. Gentle manipulations to the spine, neck, and joints adjust any subluxations and may relieve the body of pain as well as tightness. The result is often improved flexibility and range of motion. Some people find that they can exercise more intensely, which also improves physical health. Many chiropractic patients find that they sleep better and have less anxiety. This is often coupled with better stress management. For some, chiropractic care provides similar benefits to yoga.
Yoga and Chiropractic Care
What if you practice yoga and see a chiropractor regularly? First, you get the physical and mental benefits that both provide in greater abundance. They also complement each other well. Yoga helps strengthen the muscles that surround and support the spine which aids in the adjustment process. The increased flexibility that yoga provides can also help smooth out adjustments. As yoga can be taxing on the body, chiropractic care can help restore the spine and joints to their optimal states. This can help you progress in your yoga practice. By combining yoga and chiropractic care, you can start a positive cycle where each helps and reinforces the other.
A healthy body and a healthy mind are essential to a productive and happy life. Anything that can improve the health of both, such as yoga and chiropractic care, is certainly worth trying. Consider a visit to The Joint Chiropractic. No appointment is necessary and you may find that seeing a chiropractor will benefit you in several ways. Try a beginner's yoga class, and you might feel better than ever.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Sarasota, Fla.