After having been away from my exercise routine for several months, I’m at a point where I’m ready to get back to the gym.  My body and brain are making it loud and clear that it’s time.

When I think of exercise, images of treadmills, weight machines, and spinning bikes come to mind because that’s what has always been part of my routine.  But in the background, I hear the faint voices of friends (and some pastors, too) urging me to give yoga a try.  To be honest, I’ve never really thought of yoga as exercise and have been skeptical of people who rely on it for their primary source of aerobic and strength training.

I came across this infographic on the Eat Smart Move More Weigh Less blog and followed the link to the Huffington post article where it originated.  It was fascinating to see how many parts of the mind and body are impacted by yoga and to read about some of the emerging research to support these claims.  (Click on the image at right to see a larger view and to read the article).

I’m searching for something to fulfill a mind-body need, and I think throwing yoga into the mix of my regular workouts might be just the thing.  If you are a yoga fan, what have you found to be its greatest benefit?

—Katie Huffman