Re-post from my Guest Blog at http://www.toptentrends.net
Research has discovered that yoga has been practiced for thousands of years and yet we are still flocking to studio classes every week. Yoga has become increasingly popular in the West over the last few decades, but what sets it apart from other fitness trends. Why is yoga so good for you?
Here are my Top 10 Health Benefits of Yoga:
1. Yoga Reduces Stress
Most of us know that physical activity is good for relieving stress. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins and these endorphins react with receptors in the brain that reduce your perception of pain. Endorphins also trigger a positive feeling in the body, leaving you feeling happy and calm.
The physical postures of yoga [also known by their Sanskrit name, Asana], were developed as a way to quieten the mind ready for meditation. Due to the concentration required during practice, we don’t have room left to dwell on the past or worry about the future.
2. Yoga Encourages Mindfulness
Yoga asana practice is a great way to promote Mindfulness. Concentrating solely on the body has the effect of bringing calmness to the mind, as it allows us to focus on the present moment.
Yoga introduces meditation techniques, which enable us to focus on our breathing and observe ourselves from an outside perspective. These techniques can be put to good use in everyday life if suffering from ailments such as depression, anxiety or insomnia.
3. Yoga Builds Strength
Many yoga poses require us to bear our body weight in ways we may not be used to. Holding weight-bearing postures such as Downward Facing Dog for five long breaths each time will help to build muscular strength. Core strength is also greatly improved through yoga practice, a vital area which often gets overlooked in other forms of exercise.
4. Yoga Improves Balance
An important benefit of yoga, especially as we get older, is improved balance. Postures such as Tree Pose or Standing Half Lotus which require students to stand on one leg, are excellent for improving balance and alignment. Inversions are also a great way to build the core strength that keeps us upright.
5. Yoga Increases Muscle Ton & Definition
As a by-product of getting stronger, you can expect to see increased muscle tone. Yoga helps to shape long, lean muscles in your legs, arms, back and abdomen. Unlike fad diets and ‘quick-fix’ exercise regimes, regular yoga practice will ensure you retain a lean and muscular physique long-term.
6. Yoga Improves Flexibility
An obvious benefit of yoga [and one that attracts many people to practice in the first place], is that it will increase your flexibility. Over time, you can expect to gain flexibility in many areas of the body, bringing a greater range of motion to previously tight areas.
As we age, our flexibility usually decreases, especially is we spend all our time sitting at a desk. This can in turn leas to pain and immobility, which regular yoga practice can prevent.
7. Yoga Encourages Breath Awareness
Most of us don’t give much thought to how we breathe. Yoga breathing exercises, called Pranayama, allow us to focus on our breathing and encourage us to take deeper breaths, which will benefit the entire body.
Aside from specific pranayama exercises, there are also physical yoga poses [asana], which can support the respiratory system by expanding the lungs and enabling us to breathe to our full capacity.
8. Yoga Prevents Back Pain & Increases Joint Health
Increased flexibility and strength can help prevent back pain. Many people who experience back pain, tend to spend a lot of time sitting at as desk which can cause tightness throughout the body and spinal compression. Yoga counteracts these conditions by encouraging correct posture and alignment.
Yoga movements are fairly low impact, enabling us to use our joints effectively without injuring them. Yoga also helps strengthen the muscles around the joints, which will protect them by lessening their load. People with arthritis often see a marked improvement in their mobility and experience less pain with regular gentle yoga practice.
9. Yoga Lowers Blood Pressure
Yoga can reduce stress-induced hypertension [High Blood Pressure], while addressing its underlying causes. It pacifies the sympathetic nervous system and slows down the heart, whilst teaching the muscles and mind to relax deeply. Savasana or Corpse Pose is an excellent posture for lowering blood pressure after asana practice.
10. Yoga Increases Self-Confidence
Yoga can give us better awareness of our own bodies by encouraging a healthy relationship of body and mind. During yoga practice, we will improve our alignment and posture and also learn to accept our bodies without judgement or expectation. Eventually, this will lead to us feeling more comfortable in our own skin; therefore boosting self-confidence and promoting a positive body image.
So there you have it. Yoga is a fantastic way to maintain a healthy body and mind. From increasing out strength and flexibility, to improving our breath capacity and mental health; the benefits of regular yoga practice are huge.
So what are you waiting for? Time to hop on a yoga mat!
Sunflower Yoga 