Why I do YOGA!

You might be wondering why I am taking the time, on my teachnology blog, to talk about Yoga.

A recent study suggests people "spend on average two-thirds of their working hours in a sitting position". If you're like me, and you use a computer, laptop or tablet for work, Yoga might be for you! All those hours sitting at our desks, writing papers/reports, grading, and surfing the web can cause major problems with you neck, spine, and shoulders. Another report from India claims that "in the IT industry that requires one to sit in front of the computer for 14-16 hours every day, leading them to slouch and sit in a bad posture, with hardly any physical activity, leads to Repetitive Strain Injury". Most technology and academic related careers revolve around a desk, computer screen, and many, many hours typing away at a keyboard. Yoga, along with cardio and resistance training, has helped me minimize the impact of my sedentary career.

Since moving to Colorado, the 8th healthiest state in the union, my wife and I have decided to be healthy, more active, and eat better. We can easily say we are the healthiest we have been in a long time, if not ever, but we still have a long way to go. Sometime 2  years ago, all that sitting for long stretches at my job caught up to me and boom, my back popped, and I was in great pain.

Fast forward a few months, after my wife motivated me to give YOGA a try, I began to feel better--much better. The "Down Dogs", "Up Dogs" and "Triangles" of Yoga help me stop years of back, neck, and Spine pain. After my first class, I woke up without pain for the first time in a LONG time.

While Yoga is not the total answer, and I have to do it almost everyday to see results, I can say it has helped me overcome my sedentary job. Take a look at some info from the Mayo Clinic on the Health Benefits of Yoga. Next,  find  beginning YOGA class in your area and GO!


Take a look at this article for more reasons why the combination of  cardio, weights, and yoga can help.