Our mantra is, that our bodies are our temples. One of the ways we’ve been staying mindful about our lives and boosting our self-care routines is by staying active and centered through yoga. You may already know that yoga can increase strength, improve flexibility, and help you sleep better.
But are you aware there are more benefits of yoga that extend beyond our leggings and mats? That’s right – and there are many different styles of yoga to suit any yogi. Let’s observe some of the health benefits of this beautiful mind
Health, Mind & Body Benefits of Yoga
History suggests that yoga in one form or another has been for over 5,000 years – and perhaps traced back to more than 10,000 years ago.
The concept of yoga focuses on uniting the mind, body, and spirit with a Universal Consciousness, and likewise connecting man and nature. This emphasis is to encourage you to take control of your health. In this, we find the heart and purpose of yoga, recognizing how it can elevate one’s wellbeing and mindfulness with continued practice.
If you’ve considered trying yoga, you may have been impressed (albeit a bit overwhelmed) or even skeptical by just how many ‘healing powers’ and styles of yoga exist. With so many different types of practice come an incredible array of benefits that makes yoga not just impactful, but a critical part of life for new and seasoned yogis.
Here are a few key benefits of yoga:
Better breathing
Yoga gives your lungs room to breathe. Can we say it’s like a big, refreshing breath of fresh air?! Yoga encourages you to relax, and take slow, fewer breaths of greater volume, shifting the balance to the parasympathetic nervous system. This signals your body to calm down, and breathe better and more efficiently.
Yoga also promotes breathing through the nose, which filters the air, warms it (cold, dry air is more likely to trigger an asthma attack in people who are sensitive), and humidifies it, removing pollen and dirt and other things you’d rather not take into your lungs.
Better body awareness
Regular yoga practice encourages self-care or “body awareness”. Because of the mind-body wellness promoted by yoga, dedicating this time to physical wellness increases our attention to the sensations and things going on inside ourselves. It’s believed that heightened body awareness can improve how well people take care of themselves in their day-to-day lives.
Improves cardiovascular health
Since yoga gets your blood flowing, it’s no surprise this mind-body training is heart-healthy. Yoga boosts levels of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the tissues. With improved flexibility, you’ll notice a gradual loosening, which can help with improper alignment – the common cause of knee pain and flattening of the lumbar spine, which can cause back pain.
Man is a physical, mental and spiritual being; yoga helps promote a balanced development of all the three. Other forms of physical exercises, like aerobics, assure only physical well-being. They have little to do with the development of the spiritual or astral body.
The art of practicing yoga helps in controlling an individual's mind, body and soul. It brings together physical and mental disciplines to achieve a peaceful body and mind; it helps manage stress and anxiety and keeps you relaxing. It also helps in increasing flexibility, muscle strength and body tone. It improves respiration, energy and vitality. Practicing yoga might seem like just stretching, but it can do much more for your body from the way you feel, look and move.
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