with additions by MJ Kelly

Over the past decade, yoga has taken the western world by storm.

And it’s not surprising: Yoga– partly because it’s a form of physical activity– has been proven to offer a wide range of health benefits.

The physical health benefits are aplenty; yoga is known to improve strength, flexibility, balance, blood circulation, alleviate pain and the list goes on. In addition to enhancing the body’s well-being, yoga also works to support mental and emotional health.

A regular practice helps reduce stress, relieve anxiety and manage depression symptoms by promoting mindfulness.

Photo Credit: GMB Monkey on Unsplash

The only problem is, if you’re an athlete looking to take advantage of the benefits of yoga to aid your performance, an entrepreneur looking to maximize your energy, or you simply want to adopt a simple yoga routine at home to optimize your performance and improve your health, it can be really confusing.

It’s hard to know how to choose the best poses for optimizing your body and mind as there are about as many forms and offshoots of yoga as there are positions, so you’re liable to become overwhelmed before ever taking action.

Feeling too pressed for time? The truth is not everyone has the option to go to a one-hour yoga class everyday, but the good news is that incorporating just a short, 10-minute practice into your daily routine is more than enough to reap all the goodness yoga provides.

Photo Credit: Matthew Kane on Unsplash

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