Yoga has a lot to offer to your mind, body, and spirit. It is an age-old practice that has been scientifically proven to improve health.
Some of the many benefits of yoga include increased flexibility, strength, weight loss and stress relief. Read on to learn more!
Increased Flexibility
Increased flexibility is one of the most obvious benefits to come from practicing yoga. During your first class you might not be able to touch your toes or perform a backbend, but with consistent practice you’ll begin to see your body loosen up.
Tight muscles can affect the alignment of bones and joints, and can lead to aches and pains. For instance, tight hip flexors can create improper alignment of the thigh bone, which may lead to knee pain.
Athletes often use stretching as a part of their training regimen. This helps them achieve greater strength while improving their range of motion and preventing injury.
Flexibility is also associated with better posture. This can help reduce stress and anxiety. It also improves circulation, which is important for a healthy immune system.
Strengthened Muscles
When you practice yoga, your muscles are lengthened and strengthened. This is a great way to tone and strengthen your body without losing flexibility, which is important if you want to keep your body healthy for the long term.
Strengthening your muscles through yoga can also help to lower your blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, so incorporating yoga poses that lower your blood pressure will help to reduce the risk of these diseases.
The prone backbend is another good pose to include in your workouts for strengthening your muscles. This pose targets your chest, arms, and glutes while also working on your core.
Yoga also helps to promote a better sleep, which can be a major benefit for those who are struggling with insomnia. When you practice yoga, your body is able to produce more melatonin, which can help you fall asleep and stay asleep longer.
Weight Loss
Yoga is a fantastic way to lose weight and build muscle at the same time. Unlike cardio exercises that only burn calories, yoga asanas stretch the muscles which require energy to rebuild.
Practicing yoga also encourages a healthier diet. Typically, yogic teachings point to eating foods that are considered sattvic, which means that they keep both the body and the mind healthy and nourished.
The more yogic you are, the more likely you are to become aware of your habits and relationships with food, which is key for long-term success. You will also need to make sure you are not falling prey to automatic triggers that can jeopardize your weight loss efforts.
Most importantly, yoga helps you to fight stress. This is important for weight loss because stress can elevate the level of cortisol which stimulates fat storage.
Stress Relief
Practicing yoga is a great way to reduce stress. This is because it triggers the parasympathetic nervous system, which tells your body and mind to relax.
The benefits of yoga aren’t limited to reducing stress; it can also help improve your mental health and sense of well-being. It can help you deal with anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and it can boost your concentration.
You can do simple breathing exercises during your yoga routine, which can help you lower your blood pressure and heart rate. This will help you manage stress and keep your immune system strong.
Stress is a major factor in many diseases, including cancer. Fortunately, practicing yoga can help prevent cancer from developing and spreading by reducing chronic stress.