Yoga is a unique form of exercise with many loyal practitioners. Perhaps you’ve considered giving yoga a try but are uncertain if it’s worth your time.
Yoga has been around for thousands of years, and there are many scientists studying the benefits of yoga. If you’re looking for a safe and effective way to get a good workout, yoga might be an option to consider. Yoga has a lot to offer.
Consider these advantages of yoga:
1. Reduces stress. Yoga has been shown to be a great remedy for stress. This shouldn’t be surprising, because exercise in general is a great way to combat stress. Working up a sweat and pushing your body is a great way to chase the stress away.
2. Increased muscle strength. Yoga might seem like mild exercise best suited for those that eat twigs and berries, but there are some extremely challenging yoga poses. Some are so challenging that only a few people have ever accomplished them. Yoga is an excellent way to increase your physical strength.
3. Enhances breathing and lung function. Regular practitioners of yoga are able to take larger breaths than the average person. They also take fewer breaths per minute. Yogic breathing has even been used to treat those with lung problems resulting from congestive heart failure.
4. Weight loss. If you’re less stressed and getting a good workout on a regular basis, you’re going to lose weight. Losing weight is great for your health, self-esteem, and appearance.
5. Enhances bone health. There are yoga postures that require you to support your weight in unusual ways. This is great for building strength and health in your bones. Yoga may help prevent osteoporosis.
6. Lowers blood pressure. Yoga improves circulation and lowers blood pressure. The various poses in yoga are believed to help force blood through the body. Three months of practicing yoga was shown to reduce systolic and diastolic pressure by 26 points and 15 points respectively.
7. Boosts immune function. Yoga movements increase the flow of lymph throughout the body. Lymph is loaded with immune cells that help to combat cancerous cells and fight infections.
8. Enhances sleep. Yoga relaxes your mind and body. Studies have demonstrated that regular yoga practitioners sleep more deeply. If you’re not sleeping as well as you’d like, yoga is a possible solution.
9. Improves balance. Yoga has many poses that will tax your balance to the max. Yoga can also improve your posture. Elderly folks are less likely to suffer from falls if practicing yoga regularly.
10. Pain relief. Yoga has been shown to help reduce pain in those suffering from a variety of conditions, including arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Another benefit is that you can also make a few friends and expand your social options when you take a yoga class. If you need some exercise, and your social life has seen better days, take a yoga class.
Yoga is a complete system for developing one’s mind, spirit, and body. Most people are only familiar with the physical side of yoga, but there is much more to yoga than using your body.
There are many types of yoga, so it’s important to do your research and decide on the best option available to you.
Joining a yoga class can be a little nerve racking for beginners. You might believe that you’re too out of shape or inflexible to be able to participate. However, you’ll have nothing to worry about if you join a beginner’s class. Beginner classes assume that you’re not in the best of shape and that your flexibility is lacking.
Give yoga a try and enjoy the many scientifically supported benefits it has to offer.
