Introduction to Yoga Health Advantages
When it comes to improving your overall health, yoga is one of the best activities you can do. Yoga has been around for centuries, and there’s a reason why it’s still so popular today. From physical to mental health, yoga offers so many health benefits. Here’s 9 Health Advantages to the practice of Yoga.
Before we begin, if you are looking for a holistic exercise example that includes yoga, strength training, and cardiovascular work head over to our Intermediate Routine Example and see if you want to give our workout a shot!
Health Advantage #1: Yoga Can Improve Your Flexibility
One of the most obvious benefits of yoga is that it can improve your flexibility. If you’re not flexible, that’s okay. Yoga is a great way to slowly increase your range of motion and become more flexible over time.
Not only will this make everyday activities easier, but it can also help reduce your risk of injuries in the future. When you have a better range of motion, your muscles and joints are better protected from strains and sprains.
Plus, increased flexibility can also lead to improved posture. Poor posture often leads to back pain, but by increasing your flexibility with yoga, you can help correct any alignment issues you may have.
Health Advantage #2: Yoga Can Strengthen Your Muscles
In addition to improving your flexibility, yoga can help strengthen your muscles. While you might not think of yoga as a “workout,” it actually does provide a great way to tone your muscles and build strength. This is especially beneficial for people who are looking for a low-impact form of exercise. If you have joint pain or other issues that make high-impact activities difficult, yoga can be a great alternative.
Yoga can also help improve your muscle endurance and stamina. As you build up strength in your muscles, you’ll find it easier to do things like carrying groceries or walking upstairs without getting winded. And if you’re looking to improve your balance, yoga is a great way to do that, too.
Health Advantage #3: Yoga Can Help You Relax and De-Stress
One of the best things about yoga is that it can help you relax and de-stress. In today’s busy world, it can be hard to find time to unwind. But when you practice yoga, it gives you a chance to take a break from your hectic life and focus on your breath and your body. The deep breathing exercises you learn in yoga can also help reduce stress by increasing the supply of oxygen to your brain.
This can help lull you into a more relaxed state, which is beneficial for both your mind and body. If you’re looking for a way to reduce stress and improve your overall well-being, yoga is definitely worth considering.
One of the primary mantras of Yoga is Ahisma, or the state of being non-harmful. Translating to “non-violence”, Ahisma calls on us to live in a non-harmful manner. Be this through your thoughts, speech, or action, the purpose of Ahisma is not directed towards only other humans, rather all living beings – including ourselves
Health Advantage #4: Yoga Can Boost Your Energy Levels
If you’re always feeling tired, yoga might be able to help. When you practice yoga, it can give you a much-needed energy boost. This is because yoga helps improve your circulation and increase the oxygen supply to your cells. Plus, the deep-breathing exercises you learn in yoga can help increase your lung capacity, which means you’ll be able to take in more oxygen with each breath. This can lead to improved energy levels and stamina throughout the day. Here’s 5 specific poses that have been proven to boost your mood and energy!
Health Advantage #5: Yoga Can Help Improve Your Sleep
For people with insomnia or other sleep issues, yoga can be a great way to get the rest they need. The relaxation techniques you learn in yoga can help quiet your mind and prepare your body for sleep. And the deep breathing exercises you do can help relax your muscles and ease tension headaches, which often keep people up at night.
In addition to helping you fall asleep, yoga can improve the quality of your sleep. If you find that you’re always waking up feeling exhausted, doing some gentle yoga poses before bed might be helpful. By improving your circulation and increasing the oxygen supply to your cells, yoga can help you wake up feeling refreshed and well-rested.
Health Advantage #6: Yoga Can Help Lower Your Blood Pressure
While there are pills you can take to lower your blood pressure, yoga is a natural way to do it. When you practice yoga, it helps relax your mind and body, which can lead to lower blood pressure. The deep-breathing exercises you learn in yoga can also help improve your lung function and increase the oxygen supply to your cells, which can further help lower your blood pressure.
Health Advantage #7: Yoga Can Help Improve Your Digestion
Digestive issues are common these days, but luckily, yoga can help. Massaging your internal organs and increasing the oxygen supply to your cells through yoga can help improve your digestion.
The breathing exercises you learn in yoga can also help relieve gas and bloating, and the gentle twisting motions can help stimulate your digestive system. If you’re looking for a natural way to improve your digestion, don’t overlook yoga.
Healthline has a great article including scientific research, specific helpful poses, and conditions that Yoga has been known to aid. I can personally speak to the benefits Yoga can have on your digestion as I saw several long term digestion issues either lessen or dissolve once I started truly practicing Yoga and focusing on my overall health and well being. Water is also a huge part of digestion, and Yoga, so by consuming more water during the day you can improve both!
Health Advantage #8: Yoga Can Help Relieve Pain
Yoga has been known to help relieve pain in a number of different ways. By increasing the circulation to your joints and muscles, yoga can help reduce inflammation and ease pain.
In fact, doctors from around the world have recommended yoga to patients with various forms of pain, including arthritis, carpal tunnel, lower back soreness, and more. Because of its pain-relieving abilities, yoga is often used as a form of physical therapy.
Health Advantage #9: Yoga Improves Heart and Cardiovascular Health
Even if you are not among those with the highest risk of heart disease, incorporating yoga into your life can improve your heart health.
Yoga helps to strengthen the muscles around the heart and lungs, which helps them to function more efficiently. Because of this, yoga practitioners tend to be less at risk for heart disease.
Additionally, the deep-breathing exercises you learn in yoga help improve your lung function and increase the oxygen supply to cells, which can also help improve your heart health.
Yoga Health Advantages: Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many different benefits of yoga. If you’re looking for a way to improve your physical and mental health, be sure to give yoga a try. You might be surprised at how much it can help, and with so many different types of yoga available, there’s sure to be a style that’s perfect for you. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
