Why Practice YOGA: Top 10 Benefits
The beginnings of yoga were developed in India over 5,000 years ago. Today, numerous studies reveal how yoga has become an important activity with a variety of benefits. Most importantly, these findings show that a regular yoga practice improves both your physical and mental health.
In this article, we explore some of the key benefits of yoga for both your body and mind.
PHYSICAL BENEFITS
Increases flexibility
Yoga increases your body’s flexibility. Its poses stretch your muscles and increase your range of motion. It is important, however, to practice yoga regularly to better improve your flexibility. In addition to this, studies suggest that yoga’s slow movements are more effective in improving your flexibility than dynamic and fast moves.
Improves strength and balance
Yoga also increases your body’s strength and balance. Yoga tones muscles all over your body. According to expert practitioners, dynamic and active styles of yoga are more effective for improving your strength. Furthermore, it also improves your physical balance and coordination.
Improves posture
As a result of your body being stronger and more flexible, your posture also improves. Having a correct posture is crucial for supporting the natural curves of a healthy spine. Some of the yoga poses helps you to correct your posture. This is very extremely important especially for those who suffer from back pain.
Supports Immune System
Another benefit of yoga is that it enhances your immune system performance. As we will mention below, yoga helps reduce stress. The latter is one of the leading causes of sickness. In addition to this, yoga is one of the main tools for maintaining our respiratory system healthy.
Helps in weight loss
Yoga is also a good weight management activity. Regular practice of yoga helps you reach your weight loss goals. Yoga is an effective way to burn calories, developing muscle tone, and improving your metabolism, to name a few.
MENTAL BENEFITS
Improves focus, memory, and concentration
Yoga is a great activity that helps boost your cognitive functions. In fact, several studies have shown that it improves both your concentration and mental focus, but also it boosts your memory.
Relax
It is widely known that yoga helps to put your body in a calm state and reduce tension throughout your mind. A number of studies have proven that it helps reduce stress and anxiety, which are all factors that have a negative impact on your wellbeing. There are different yoga’s styles, and, according to experts, Hatha yoga, in particular, is one of the best one for stress management.
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
As yoga promotes relaxation, it, therefore, helps you to manage stress. The fact that you can take relaxing postures means you get to control and calm both your mind and body. Many of the popular techniques found to reduce stress are controlled breathing, meditation, mental imagery, and stretching.
Improves your sleep
Many studies report that yoga improves your sleep. Practicing yoga helps you not only to fall asleep faster but also to sleep longer. Yoga experts recommend the long-term practice for a better result. It is, therefore, important to practice regularly. In addition to this, they also suggest that poses done before bedtime encourages the body to relax and to sleep.
Increases self-esteem
Last but not least of importance, yoga increases your self-esteem, and it also builds your self-acceptance. In fact, it helps you not only to become more aware of your capabilities and limitations (we all have them) but also to accept them. In addition to this, as discussed above, yoga improves your muscle tone and helps you to lose weight. This helps you to improve your self-image and self-confidence. The way you perceive yourself and how you feel about your body affects your mental and emotional health.