Yoga, an ancient practice that brings together the mind and the body, is becoming increasingly popular in today’s world. Here are five key benefits of yoga:
The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word ‘yuji’, meaning union. Yoga generally combines breathing exercises, meditation, and a flow of poses to encourage relaxation and reduce stress. As a result, yoga acts as a much-needed retreat for many people from their busy and chaotic everyday lives. Yoga provides many physical and mental benefits. Here’s a look at five scientifically proven benefits of yoga:
Reduces stress
Yoga is often recommended as one of the best techniques to reduce stress and promote relaxation for people of all ages. Countless studies have proven that yoga decreases the production of cortisol, the primary stress hormone, in our bodies. Yoga, combined with meditation, is a powerful duo that can be used to combat stress.
Relieves anxiety
Along with being an effective stress-reliever, yoga is also proven to be a way to cope with feelings of anxiety. Yoga focuses on the importance of finding inner peace, and being present in the moment. This helps reduce symptoms of anxiety. For example, in one study, 34 women diagnosed with anxiety disorder participated in yoga classes twice a week for two months. By the end of the two-month period, these women had significantly lower anxiety levels than they did before.
Can reduce chronic pain
Millions of people, especially seniors, suffer from chronic pain. Chronic pain can be caused by a number of reasons, including injuries and arthritis. A growing collection of research suggests that the practice of yoga can help reduce or eliminate chronic pain.
Can improve heart health
A healthy heart is important for a healthy body. Many studies have shown that yoga may help reduce risk factors for heart disease and improve heart health. Research also proposes that yoga could also slow the progression of heart disease, when combined with a healthy lifestyle. However, it is important to note here that yoga is not the only factor that can help improve heart health; an overall healthy lifestyle, and healthy diet, especially, is also very crucial.
Improves flexibility
Practicing yoga can help improve your flexibility and balance. Considerable research backs up this claim, as yoga incorporates certain poses that target flexibility. Simply practicing yoga for 15-30 minutes every day can make a big difference when it comes to enhancing flexibility and balance. Increased flexibility can improve performance in many sports as well, so it is an important skill for athletes.
Although everyone’s bodies are different, incorporating yoga into your daily routine can definitely be beneficial for most people. Practicing yoga for just a couple minutes a day is enough to make considerable differences in the long run when it comes to your health and overall well-being.