Everyone who exercises loves to see the visible impact of their efforts. It is a well known fact that exercising three to four times a week keeps you in good shape and is good for your heart. Running, cycling,  and swimming, just to name a few popular sports, are great for your cardiovascular system and burning calories. However, these physical exercises do not offer all the internal anatomical benefits of yoga. The practice of yoga is actually a great complement to maximize the benefits of the sport you currently love.

The intention of this series is to help give you some interesting facts about the positive impact that the practice of yoga has on your body from the internal perspective. This article is regarding bone density and calcium. As you age, the density of your bone decreases. It can be significantly reduced if you are proactive with the proper form of exercise and diet. Calcium is what adds density and strength to your bones. Your bones actually give up the calcium that is in them to make sure your brain has enough. In fact, calcium is the most important element for the healthy functioning of the nervous system, muscular system, and skeletal system. You have what is called a parathyroid gland, which is right next to the thyroid gland, and its key function is to control the calcium in your blood. The various weight bearing poses in yoga strengthen the bone mass by simply using your own weight and gravity as the resistance. The parathyroid gland is actually exercised in different poses that involve your neck. Yoga is an excellent preventative form of exercise that actually reduces the chance of numerous ailments. By keeping your parathyroid healthy and keeping your bone density solid, you can prevent osteoporosis. Bone is sometimes envisioned as a solid mass; however, it is porous and can either thicken or become thinner in its structure. One of the key reasons is based on the amount of calcium it is producing within the red blood cells and how much it is giving away to the rest of the body. The continued practice of the weight bearing poses enable the bones to thicken and become stronger

So, for all you runners...if you want to keep those legs strong down to the bone, practice yoga to make it happen. You will prevent injury to your bones by strengthening them from the inside out. This prevention will keep you running strong and fast. Perhaps you will find yourself anxious to run to your next yoga class as you start to feel the multitude of benefits that it offers.

Published 10/12/2009 by www.examiner.com