When you think of yoga you probably think of flexibility, relaxation and maybe meditation. However, it has been determined that yoga can be used as a system of healing. Yoga has been used for thousands of years for high blood pressure.

One in three Americans has high blood pressure. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is usually the first step toward heart disease, the number one killer of Americans. Specific yoga poses are known to be beneficial exercises for high blood pressure.

Lower the numbers

Someone in the United States dies approximately every 33 seconds from heart disease. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends exercise, stress management and weight management to prevent high blood pressure, thereby lowering the risk of heart disease. Yoga can help with all three recommendations.

Yoga is known to lower blood pressure, especially the diastolic score. Blood pressure is measured as two numbers, a systolic score written above a diastolic score. The systolic number is a measurement of blood pressure while the heart pumps blood. Diastolic refers to blood pressure between beats. The diastolic number is the most important. Additionally, people with high diastolic blood pressure frequently develop a high systolic blood pressure too.

Yoga benefits high blood pressure through promoting relaxation of the mind and body. Practicing yoga helps decrease the negative impacts of stress, including tension, shallow breathing and elevated heart rate. It also improves physical strength and flexibility, plus may assist with weight loss, according to Prevention magazine.

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Get ready for spring by clearing out those winter cobwebs from your hips, back, neck and head. How? With yoga.  Join Fabienne at Answer is Fitness for 6 Special Viniyoga classes, Sundays, 11:00am to 12:30pm, March 18 to April 29.

Viniyoga is a therapeutic yoga practice designed to alleviate pain and promotes health in the lower and upper back, sacrum, hips as well neck and shoulders. The therapeutically oriented yoga style of Viniyoga is more effective than traditional exercise for improving function and pain in patients with chronic low back pain.

Viniyoga is using repetition for both muscular and neuromuscular benefit. In order to change the condition of a muscle, it is not enough to stretch it but you need to alternate between stretching and contracting using. This process brings more blood circulation to the muscle which helps relax the muscle and make them stronger.

Get your body and your mind ready for spring through Yoga.

For your body:

• Stretches and tones muscles
• Releases chronic tension
• Improves circulation
• Energizes and refreshes

• Calms restless thoughts
• Cultivates concentration
• Supports mental clarity and confidence
• Promotes self-awareness

Contact Answer is Fitness for more information.

Women have many health and fitness concerns that are inherent to women alone. As women age it is very important that they remain physically active and healthy. Physical exercise is the best way to keep the mind and body healthy as women age.

However, even for younger women, those who watch what they eat and follow a simple exercise routine feel better about themselves and that's reflected in everything they do.

In order to do their best in all of their numerous roles, women need to put in place and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Regular physical exercise and a healthy diet are the best ways to improve women’s health now and over time.

Healthy bones are important to prevent osteoporosis. Muscular strength has a direct correlation to bone density, so it is important for women to do weight bearing exercises regularly. However, endurance and flexibility are important to.

Flexibility, which you can develop through yoga and pilates, helps aging women prevent slips and falls and helps you in your ability to maintain your balance. Muscular strength also helps with balance as you age.

Physical exercise not only helps your bone health, but it has also been proven to improve your brain health.

Healthy eating habits and a regular cardio exercise and strength training regime important to healthy bones and a healthy lifestyle.

Contact Answer is Fitness for steps to a healthier lifestyle designed specifically for women of today.

It is winter and traditionally we tend to put on weight this time of year. This goes back to evolution, we needed a little winter padding to stay warmer before there were things such as hand warmers and heat.

But today, we don’t want to gain weight in the winter. If we can prevent gaining those few extra pounds, in winter, we won't have to worry about losing them in the Spring. How can we keep the weight off this winter?

Decadent comfort foods are delicious and soothing in the winter, but don’t overdo it. Generally they are packed with calories.

If you have a dog, you know, it is actually never too cold to go for a walk. Get outside, shovel instead of using a snow blower if possible. We live in the Northeast, embrace the cold and buy some snow shoes.

If cold is just not your style, take yoga classes, run on a treadmill, swim in an indoor pool or weight train at a gym. Figure out a way to break a sweat, your mood will improve too. Be sure to exercise at least three times a week to burn calories and prevent illness.

Are fresh vegetable too expensive because they are not in season? Eating frozen vegetables is good for you too. All the fiber will make you feel less hungry.

Don’t wear baggy clothes. There are two problems with this. The first: you forget about the body under that big sweatshirt, and second: baggy, cozy clothes promote sitting around and vegging on the couch. Put on clothes that fit.

Need help this winter keeping off the weight? Contact Answer is Fitness in your area.