Introduction
Although Yoga has been around for thousands of years, it has only recently gained popularity in the western world. For many people, yoga is about mastering poses and achieving inner peace but it is also linked to countless health benefits that you may not know about, including alleviating pain and improving mental clarity. Here are six surprising health benefits of yoga that will make you want to start practicing today!
Health Benefit 1: Flexibility
Flexibility is one of the most commonly mentioned benefits of yoga, and for good reason. It not only helps you to move more easily (which means less strain on your joints and muscles) but it also helps prevent injury by allowing you to avoid certain harmful movements or postures.
For example, if you have tight hamstrings, it will be difficult to fully extend your hip flexors. If you try to bend forward with poor alignment and limited range of motion, there’s a chance that this could lead to pain or injury in other parts of your body like the lower back or knees. By increasing flexibility in these areas through regular practice, you can improve how well they function. This also reduces any potential risk factors associated with them being too tight.
Here is a great article from Healthline on 8 yoga poses to boost your flexibility!
Health Benefit 2: Strength
Yoga is a great way to build strength. You can strengthen your core, shoulders, arms, and back while practicing yoga. The poses are designed in such a way to help you gain strength without having to lift weights or perform other strenuous exercises.
Additionally, the breathing techniques involved in yoga will improve respiratory function and endurance. They will also help increase lung capacity.
Be sure to check out our Yoga and Strength Training guide here!
Health Benefit 3: Breathing
Did you know that a lot of yoga is all about breathing? Not just any kind of breathing, a specific type called “pranayama” (which translates to “breath control”). Pranayama is the fourth limb of Ashtanga yoga. It includes techniques like alternate nostril breathing, breath retention after inhalation, and breath retention after exhalation. These practices help you focus on your breathing so that it becomes easier for you to relax and focus.
By becoming more aware of the way that our bodies function during everyday activities like eating or sleeping, we can find ways to improve both areas at once without having to rely solely on external sources such as medicines or supplements.
Health Benefit 4: Mental calmness and clarity
Yoga is a great way to get your mind and body in sync. There are many different ways to practice yoga, so you can find one that fits your needs. Try to practice yoga at least once a week if possible, as the benefits will increase over time. Yoga helps you relax, focus on the present moment, and let go of stress by encouraging deep breathing and meditation or relaxation postures (asanas). One of the basic principals of yoga is to live a life of non-harmfulness or “Ahisma”.
In addition to helping you feel relaxed during a stressful situation like an exam or interview, regular yoga practice also reduces anxiety levels overall. It promotes mindfulness throughout daily activities such as eating meals or taking showers.
Health Benefit 5: Pain relief and prevention of future injury
In addition to the mental and spiritual benefits, you can also use yoga to improve your physical health. Yoga is an effective treatment for chronic pain and can also help prevent future injuries.
If you have a history of hamstring injuries or knee problems, you may consider going straight into surgery or physical therapy. But before you resort to that kind of treatment, consider yoga as an alternative. Since yoga focuses on the breath and using your body in new ways, it’s particularly effective at improving balance and controlling muscles so that you don’t injure yourself again.
Health Benefit 6: Yoga is a great way to lose weight
It’s true: yoga can help you lose weight. If you want to shed pounds and inches, try adding a few minutes of yoga each day. Even five minutes will make a difference. Yoga can also help prevent weight gain by improving muscle tone. This boosts metabolism and burns more calories than fat does. Studies have found that people who practice yoga are leaner and have lower body mass indexes than those who don’t do yoga at all.
Conclusion
So there you have it, a crash course on the health benefits of yoga. Hopefully, you feel a little more informed and ready to tackle your first yoga class now–or at least more curious about all the awesome things this practice can do for your body, mind, and spirit.
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