You At Your Best

Between 2012 and 2017 the number of americans doing yoga grew by nearly 50%. adulthood than those who did not. That might be linked to additional research that found people who practiced yoga were more mindful eaters than those who did not, making them less likely to overeat, eat when sad or stressed or eat in response to certain cues, including the smell of food. Yoga can help relieve chronic pain. The American Osteopathic Association notes that yoga can be part of the effort to reduce the aches and pains that are often associated with aging. "The relaxation techniques incorporated in yoga can lessen chronic pain, such as lower back pain, arthritis, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome," explains Natalie Nevins, DO, a board- certified osteopathic family physician and certified Kundalini Yoga instructor. And while yoga classes tend to be predominantly female, that is changing too. More men who routinely feel tight after traditional strength training sessions are discovering yoga as an effective supplement to their regular exercise or competitive sports routines. The benefits of yoga extend beyond the physical to the mental. The American Psychological Association notes that several studies have shown that yoga can help strengthen social attachments, reduce stress and relieve anxiety, depression and insomnia. It's yoga's focus on the breath that is key to the calm, Lorraine believes. "Breathing calms your whole body and helps you deal with outside stresses," Lorraine notes. "If you get upset and you've got that habit (from yoga) you go to your breath. You relax. And you can come back with a smile." Before including yoga in your exercise regimen, speak with your physician. Once you get the green light, look for a beginner's course, and tell your instructor that you are just starting out. sPecIal TO nWa DeMOcraT-GazeTTe Maintaining a healthy weight can have many positive effects on your health, reducing your risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease, not to mention an improved sense of self-esteem. But did you know that weight also has a profound effect on fertility? Being overweight or underweight can negatively impact fertility in women. Being underweight has been show to decrease or stop ovulation. And obesity can result in irregular menstrual cycles, an increase risk of miscarriage and decreased success rates of fertility treatments. A weight loss of just 5-10% can dramatically improve ovulation and pregnancy rates. Healthy eating and diet can go a long way towards maintaining a normal body mass index (BMI), between 18 and 30. And a good BMI is ideal when trying to become pregnant and have a healthy pregnancy. The staff at Tulsa Fertility Center has experience in dealing with a variety of fertility issues in both men and women. We'd be happy to discuss questions about your weight and how it can impact fertility, or other information about family planning and infertility. Contact us today for a consultation, at (918) 359-2229. The link between weight & fertility THERE IS HOPE INFERTILITY • FERTILITY TREATMENT IVF • DONOR PROGRAM Call 918-359-2229 (BABY) for an appointment today! 115 E 15th St Tulsa, OK www.TulsaFertilityCenter.com SATURdAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019 | mARch - wEllnESS nwAdg.cOm/YOUATYOURBEST | YOU AT YOUR BEST | 7

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