Of yoga and men

I am one of those male exceptions who practice yoga [If yoga is so good for you, why dont more men do it?, Oct. 22]. For the past year, I have been practicing Bikram yoga after a lapse of almost 30 years, and I have fewer aches and pains and am much more focused mentally. I think men in the U.S. typically do not get into yoga because it is not a quick six pack or muscle-building outcome, nor can it be accelerated. Yoga is also not so conducive to powering through for men and will likely result in injury if attempted.

Like other forms of exercise, yoga needs more marketing from male athletes if it is to be promoted to men.

Ganesh Rao, Kildeer, Ill.

The secret lives of cats

Please thank John Bradshaw for his fantastic article Cats: Theyre just not that into us [Oct. 15]. Ive had cats all my life and found every word to be true. Perhaps hes heard that Dogs have owners. Cats have staff (source unknown).

Laura Penny,Rockville

Mammogram advice

If I had followed Christie Aschwandens advice in My doctor told me to get a routine mammogram. Heres why I wont [Oct. 8], I wouldnt be here to write this. I was diagnosed in November 2008 with HER2+ breast cancer. I am diligent about my monthly self-exams. However, I couldnt feel a lump because the tumor was in the center of my breast. At the time, I didnt know there was a family history. If it wasnt for my mammogram in October of that year, ... well, I dont want to think about that. Ms. Aschwanden should hug her mammographer, not just every two or three years, but every year.

Donna Powell,Alexandria

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Readers’ views on yoga for men, cats and mammograms

The Eastern practice of yoga has become a modern-day symbol of peace, serenity and well-being in the West. More than 20 million Americans practice yoga, according to the 2012 Yoga in America study, with practitioners spending more than $10 billion a year on yoga-related products and classes.

The mind-body practice is frequently touted for its ability to reduce stress and boost well-being, but it also offers wide-ranging physical health benefits that rival other forms of exercise. While the scientific research on yoga's health benefits is still young, here's what we know so far about its potential effects on the body. View the infographic below and scroll down for more detailed information.

Infographic by Jan Diehm for The Huffington Post

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After Class.

Improved Brain Function. Just 20 minutes of Hatha yoga -- an ancient form of the practice that emphasizes physical postures rather than flow or sequences -- can improve cognitive function, boosting focus and working memory. In a University of Illinois study, participants performed significantly better on tests of brain functioning after yoga, as compared to their performance after 20 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise.

Lower Stress Levels. Yoga's stress-busting powers may come from its ability to lessen the activity of proteins that are known to play a role in inflammation, according to a study published last year from University of California, Los Angeles researchers.

Alter Gene Expression. A small Norwegian study suggested that yoga's many healthy benefits might come from its ability to alter gene expression in immune cells.

Increased Flexibility. A recent Colorado State University study found that Bikram yoga -- a form of yoga in which a series of 26 postures are performed for 90 minutes in a heated room -- is linked with increased shoulder, lower back and hamstring flexibility, as well as greater deadlift strength and decreased body fat, compared with a control group.

After A Few Months.

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How Yoga Changes Your Body, Starting The Day You Begin (INFOGRAPHIC)

FAIRMONT Exercise will be going to the dogs this Saturday at Fairmont Fitness.

An Aerobics Marathon that takes place from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Fairmont Avenue health club will allow participants to pay a fee whatever they would like to donate to exercise for as long or short of a time as they wish.

You can come in and take one class or all of them, said Shanna Miller, an instructor and trainer at Fairmont Fitness. There are 10 or 12 that stay the whole time, beginning to end.

Nine different instructors will teach 20-minute sessions, Miller added.

Already, members have brought in dog food, treats and replenishing water bowls that are being collected on a table in the lobby of the facility.

Those items, plus any money raised, will be donated to the Marion County Humane Society.

In the past, the funds have gone to the Soup Opera and Pet Helpers, but this year, organizers chose the humane society as the events benefactor.

We need all the support we can get, said Mary Sue Miller, a board member at the Marion County Humane Society. We raise all of our money. We depend on donations and support from the community to keep our shelter open. Without that, we couldnt open.

The humane society has an annual budget of about $80,000 to cover expenses that include veterinarian bills, utilities and salaries for five part-time employees.

Donated items also are greatly appreciated, Mary Sue Miller added.

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Aerobics Marathon to benefit humane society