Benefits of yoga

For one person they may be ill and looking to rejuvenate themselves. Others will want to maintain and improve their current level of health. Some people like the mental challenge… and for some, it is a physical challenge that can be overcome.

Some people may use Yoga as a relaxing form of stress relief. The great thing about Yoga is that all these people are going to find what they are looking for and so much more.

Yoga has a long list of benefits, both physical and mental, associated with it. Yoga can assist in recovery from a heart attack through its blood lowering and distressing effects.

There has been a considerable amount of research done into heart patients and Yoga, most notably by Dr. Ornish who is now also a bestselling author. Dean Ornish has no reservations in recommending Yoga both as a way of recovering from heart attacks and also avoiding future heart problems. Yoga has also been reported to be very beneficial to people with diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis due to its ability to assist with balance and muscle tone.

Yoga gently works for muscle groups around the back and spine of spinal injury sufferers and because it puts very little stress on the muscles while still working them thoroughly it is a fantastic way of strengthening this part of the body. Regular Yoga for back pain sufferers can result in complete restoration of their range of movement.

As we age most of us become frailer and less coordinated in our movements, but Yoga can help us are more gracefully by ensuring we are always in control of our body and mind. In fact, most Yoga sessions are filled with a slightly older crowd who recognize the ongoing benefits it gives them.

Yoga is also a strength-building discipline that allows even progression in the arms, the legs, and the trunk or core of the body. Many of us take strength for granted until it fails us, but increasing your physical strength will benefit you not just with lifting heavy objects, but also in everyday tasks like getting groceries or mowing the lawn. It even makes it easier for us to move!

As well as strength Yoga will greatly increase the range of motion we are able to achieve, particularly in the spine and joint areas.  Once again this is often something we take for granted unless it is missing.

The act of reaching up to put something in a cupboard is natural to many of us, but for others, it can cause a jolt of pain down their back, they simply cannot move their arm through the range of motion needed to reach up, or when they do their grasp is not strong enough to grab anything from the cupboard.

It’s important not to just focus on the physical benefits of Yoga because the mental benefits are at least as impressive. Simply put Yoga will focus and sharpen your mind.

Each posture is performed with a focus and an awareness of your body and your breathing. This is not a gym session with mind-numbing reps or chatter between exercises. Whatever you are doing during a Yoga session is done with an absolute focus on the movement, the body, the breathing, and the moment.

Mindful breathing

Breathing is something that most of us do wrong most of the time. We are accustomed to taking shorter, quicker breaths, but with Yoga, the breathing is deeper and fuller. These deeper breaths will make the mind calmer and more focused. Yoga enthusiasts often describe this calmness as a sense of well-being.

Deep breathing also makes it easier to release the stress and negative thinking that accumulates in us. Just as the physical blocks are removed through increased blood circulation during the exercises, so the mental blockages are removed by the clarity of thought.

Yoga is not a discipline you simply know or do not know; it is an ongoing learning process. There are a huge number of different postures and each posture has a number of different variations on how it can be performed. This never-ending sea of options keeps the body stimulated and engages the mind constantly.

A complete code of ethics

Behind the postures and exercises themselves, there is a complex philosophical system based on the writings that Yoga derives from. Not many people think of a complete code of ethics including steadfastness, truth, self-inquiry, and opposition to stealing, harming others, and hoarding when they think of yoga, but these ethical issues are a central part of the system on which Yoga was founded.

The different postures, breathing exercises, and the deep philosophy of Yoga all lead to the same end – a deep contemplation. Because Yoga relaxes both the body and the mental tension and stress is greatly reduced.

This is highlighted during a Yoga class by pauses for us to get in touch with how we are feeling and reacting. Ending the class in a point-by-point contemplative meditation performed on the back is common.

Yoga is an exercise, but it is also a meditative process, a code of ethics, and a confidence and character-building course all rolled into one. It’s no wonder the group of people who attend the classes is so diverse.

Conclusion

You know that exercise is good for you. 

You’ve probably heard it a thousand times on television, and maybe your doctor’s told you to get more exercise too.

There are a few fitness programs that offer a broad scope of health benefits. Running, for example, strengthens your cardiovascular system and strength training builds muscle. Yoga is one of the few fitness programs that can accomplish both and much more.

Mobility and Flexibility

As you age, and we’re talking about once you’ve passed that 25-year mark, your body begins to lose some of its mobility. Your muscles can become short and tight. Your tendons can stiffen and your joints may often feel sore. When this happens, simple day-to-day movements can become painful or difficult. You may not be able to touch your toes.

When you walk long distances you may notice your backaches. And if you try to reach over your head to put something away you may feel pain in your neck or shoulders. This is due to a lack of mobility.

Yoga can improve your mobility, meaning it can help lengthen those tight muscles and tendons. It can give you a better range of motion so that when you move your body, you do it in the most efficient and effective way possible. Not only will you feel better, but you’ll also stop having those awful aches and pains.

Strength

Yoga often requires you to hold a position for a long period of time. And in most cases, you’re supporting your full body weight. This requires you to build great strength.

Most yoga positions recruit strength from your large muscle groups, your core muscles for example. As these muscles increase in strength you’ll find it expands to other areas of your life. Your posture will improve.

You’ll be stronger, physically, and thus able to lift and carry more than you used to. And you’ll build muscle that burns fat and looks pretty darn fantastic too.

Reduced Stress

Yoga requires a few things that impact and reduce your stress level. The first stress-reducing component is breathing. Many yoga styles have a structured breathing protocol. When you focus on your breathing, it automatically lowers cortisol (a stress hormone) and it lowers your heart rate.

Additionally, yoga requires great focus. Some poses not only ask you to hold your body in a balanced position, but they also ask you to pay attention to your body and make slight adjustments to improve the pose.

You’re looking inward and focusing solely on your body and the very moment you’re in. This focus reduces stress. It’s akin to meditation and it’s wonderful for the health of your body and your mind.

There are numerous other yoga health benefits: improved breathing, better posture, and weight loss are just a few more to consider. If you’re looking for a new fitness program to try, you just can’t go wrong with yoga.