Yoga Benefits Both Body and Mind
As way of bringing peace and balance to life, yoga has been highly valued for thousands of years. Today, the wider health benefits of yoga are becoming ever clearer as science confirms what its practitioners have always known. If you haven’t ever tried yoga, don’t be intimidated. It’s not all about impossible splits and headstands – it can be done by anyone at any level!
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What could yoga do for your well-being? Here are just eight of the ways taking yoga could change your life for the better.
Poise and Balance
With its emphasis on physical control rather than sheer exertion, yoga improves your poise, balance, and dexterity throughout your daily life. This naturally results in a better posture, with less back pain and aching joints.
Energy Boost
But even though yoga isn’t a high-impact, aerobic form of exercise, it’s still an effective way to increase fitness. Over time, you’ll find your energy levels will increase, and you’ll enjoy greater stamina.
Sharper Mental Performance
Yoga focuses on the mind as much as the body, and this brings about improved mental performance. Your increased mindfulness will bring better memory, improved concentration, and greater clarity of thought. And as you practice yoga more regularly, these benefits will become a constant part of your life.
Better Mental Health
With improved mental functioning comes better overall mental health. Regular practitioners of yoga tend to experience lower levels of anxiety and stress, higher self esteem, and a reduced risk of depression.
Higher Quality Sleep
When you feel better in your mind, you’ll tend to sleep easier, longer, and more deeply. This helps maintain balanced mental health in a virtuous circle. However, it also feeds into better physical health, as your body receives the rest it needs.
Stronger Immune System
A reduction in stress combined with improved sleep gives sluggish immune systems a healthy boost. If you’re prone to picking up every minor illness that’s going around, yoga could be the solution you’re looking for.
Reduced Disease Risk
But it’s not just minor ailments that yoga helps the body fight. Studies have found that frequent yoga sessions significantly lower the risks of many major conditions, including heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and diabetes.
There is also growing evidence that yoga helps protect against several forms of cancer, thanks to its all-round benefits for lifestyle and physical health.
Helps Weight Loss
Lastly, as a low-impact form of exercise, yoga helps speed up weight loss without the joint and muscle risks that heavier methods of working out can cause. However, it also helps weight loss by increasing mindfulness, so that you’re more aware of what you’re eating and the effects of your diet on your body.
What’s more, yoga improves both muscle and skin tone, which helps keep you looking trim and lithe as your weight drops.
Over recent years, yoga has moved on from being an exotic pastime for a few dedicated enthusiasts. It’s now a mainstream way of boosting mental and physical health. And with all these benefits, it’s no surprise its popularity has surged.
