How and why is stretching like in yoga practice healthy?

Any stretching and exercise is good when it is done correctly. It’s my understanding that Yoga is done according to certain proven principles and taught by a coach.

Stretching increases your flexibility and helps to prevent injury like muscle tears and cramps.

Stretching and making ourselves more limber helps avoid injury. I am not very limber and if I am in some sort of accident where my leg or arm is forced farther than I can naturally stretch I will tear the muscle.

Yoga is not just stretching, but also holding positions that builds strength and stamina in the muscle. Some calories are burned during yoga and building muscle usually leads to incresing metabolism a little in general.

Many people also feel it is meditative. The person can focus on the exercise and not be rumenating about their day and life.

I personally don’t like yoga. Not that it matters. I can see why many people do and why it is beneficial.

I love yoga but I am a real novice. My husband says I’m more present when I’m doing yoga regularly.
It helps with my aches and pains and improves my posture.
I’m still trying to get the frickin’ pose right so I really haven’t mastered any zen benefits.
My daughter on the other hand had a very spiritually enlightening experience the first time she did yoga.

Yoga practice (Hatha yoga anyway) gives you a wonderful feeling of well-being after you finish. It is not just the stretching. It is the breathing and the contemplation.

I cannot answer the question, but I can say I am amazed at the flexibility of some people.

I’m stretching in a class, and the teacher says sit down, spread your legs, and touch your toes.

I can touch my toes! Barely. Yipee!

And the woman next to me can touch her toes – and touch her NOSE to the floor!!

Are we the same species?

Stretching also promotes circulation, and improves brain functionality.

Besides all the good things noted above already, hatha yoga practice enables deep relaxation which is essential for healing and day-to-day restoration of vitality.

We do stretching a lot in yoga, but yoga is not just about stretching. Many yoga poses are aimed to treating certain glands in your body and regulating their functions. It’s just me though.

@Milano No, it’s not just you. You are correct. The asanas are designed to energize, harmonize, and relax all the parts of the body if done in the classical sequence and style.
For yoga practice the purpose is that the body is alert and calm for meditation.
These are nice side-effects for people who aren’t interested in meditation, too.