Yoga has been known for millennia to have abundant health benefits. Yoga improves circulation, flexibility, strength, balance, oxygenation of the body and more. The benefits are not confined to the muscles and organs of the body. A regular yoga practice also helps the joints.
Flexibility is a known benefit of yoga, but many people think of muscle flexibility. Flexibility in the joints helps to improve strength and this prevents injury. In fact, yoga is often used therapeutically to increase flexibility and heal a wide range of injuries and health conditions.
Yoga increases strength in the muscles and the joints. Strong joints are less likely to be injured and strong, well lubricated joints can decrease your risk of some types of arthritis. The muscles and joints are strengthened with the regular practice of yoga.
Yoga increases the stability of the joints, as well as strength and flexibility. Improving the stability of the joints offers preventive benefits. The practice of yoga increases the stability of all your joints, including the hips, knees, shoulder blades and others.
Stiffness in the joints can happen at any age, but tends to become more frequent as we age. Often, this is called the “normal aches and pains” after a certain age. With regular practice, this stiffness will gradually decrease and eventually disappear. You will find that the aches and pains become less frequent and your range of motion increases.
Although yoga is good for your joints, there are some precautions to consider to avoid injury. Proper alignment is essential and lining up the joints, or stacking the joints, is important to avoid injury or strain. Using the arms as an example, your yoga teacher has likely told you to make sure your wrists are under your shoulders. In standing poses, you have been told to keep your knee from moving past the ankle to avoid strain in the knee joint.