Yoga has proven its true value over more than 5,000 years. Currently, close to 11 million Americans are enjoying the numerous benefits of regularly practicing yoga. Depending on the type of yoga, the focus may be relaxation, detoxification, restoration, or strength building. But regardless of the specific method of yoga that one chooses, the benefits of practicing are remarkably positive and far reaching. Here are the top ten benefits of doing yoga.
(1) Improve Cardiovascular and Circulatory Health:
According to Meredith Walker in the Nursing School Catalog, yoga is excellent for improving your cardiovascular endurance. This translates into an increase in energy, and a dramatic reduction in your risk for coronary artery disease.
(2) Increase Metabolism:
All forms of yoga help to increase metabolism because of the deep breathing technique, called pranayama, that yoga utilizes. Yoga To Health explains that deep breathing increases the oxygen intake to all of the cells in the body; this in turn increases oxidation and burning of fat cells. Some yoga poses, such as the fish pose, also help to stimulate a sluggish thyroid glad.
(3) Help Gastrointestinal and Organ Function:
Yoga poses such as the spinal twist literally massage the internal organs, helping to stimulate their function and to mobilize fats. Yoga also aids in the process of mindful eating. When we are stressed, we tend to rush through our meals, or eat just to find comfort. Yoga greatly reduces the likelihood of emotional eating by reducing feelings of anxiety.
(4) Better Immunity:
Better organ function and circulation, along with a boosted endocrine system all lead to a stronger immune system. Yoga poses that are particularly great for supporting your immune system include bow pose and shoulder stand.
(5) Delay Aging:
The website Yoga.org explains the connection between yoga and aging in one simple phrase: use it or lose it! We have to keep both our bodies and minds active and supple to delay the aging process. Yoga emphasizes prevention as the very best medicine. It slows the aging process particularly by maintaining a healthy spine, and lowering the amount of stress hormones that age us.
(6) Get More Restful Sleep:
Yoga creates clarity of mind, which is essential for a good night's sleep. Try paschimottanasana, or seated forward bend, to promote relaxation. It stretches the hamstrings, spine, and shoulders, while quieting your thoughts.
(7) Increase Calmness:
Professional yoga instructor Loretta Zedella likes to use the phrase, fluid body, calm mind. She explains that in some of her fast-paced classes, such as Vinyasa yoga, the focus remains on staying mentally calm throughout a series of physically challenging poses. This same mental technique may be facilitated in any challenging position, from a traffic jam to the dentist's chair.
(8) Boost Memory and Concentration:
The mind is a very powerful tool, and yoga has the incredible ability to improve our mental function. Master Chao Kok Sui has written a book called Superbrain Yoga, which explains his system for bringing energy to the brain, and balancing both of its hemispheres. In a pilot study, children ages 5-9 who participated in Superbrain Yoga showed improved memory and retention, better focus, and improved emotional states, among other positive changes.
(9) Prevent Disease:
Yoga practice can help prevent heart disease by significantly improving triglyceride levels and lowering bad cholesterol. Osteoporosis is prevented by yoga's ability to lower levels of cortisol, which keeps calcium in the bones. A recent study documented in Yoga Journal reveals that yoga can even slow the progression of Alzheimer's.
(10) Build Strength and Posture:
While all exercise is good, not all exercise is equal. Some cardio, such as running or step aerobics, can be very hard on your joints and knees. Yoga is one of the healthiest forms of exercise not only because of all of these significant benefits, but also because it may be modified to fit anyone's size, shape, flexibility, and personal abilities. It is completely non-competitive. In addition, a wide variety of yoga products, such as straps and blocks, are available to make yoga poses comfortable and achievable. Regardless of your fitness history, yoga will help you to build mental, spiritual, and physical strength.