We all know yoga has health benefits, we know it will help our flexibility and strength and possibly help us to feel more relaxed and calm.
But is that all there is to it?
No way!
Yoga has so many different benefits, the list is endless but here are just a few to whet your appetite…
20 Health benefits of Yoga
1. Circulation
Yoga improves blood circulation. By transporting nutrients and oxygen throughout your body, yoga practice provides healthier organs, skin, and brain.
2. Healthy Digestion
Gastrointestinal functions have been shown to improve in both men and women who practice yoga.
3. Immunity
Those to practice yoga have shown a stronger immune system to help ward off disease and bad health.
4. Respiratory System
Yoga helps the respiration through a mixture of controlled breathing techniques and fitness methods.
5. Organs
The organs are internally massaged during yoga, and each pose can benefit various organs in different ways.
6. Pain prevention
Not only can yoga help to prevent and ease any chronic pain, but it can also help our tolerance to pain by helping us become more in-tune with our bodies.
7. Aging
Yoga can help the aging process by using detoxification methods.
8. Energy
Practising regular yoga helps with regular energy, the best way to encourage this is to practice yoga in the mornings.
9. Sleep
Many people claim that practising yoga has helped them to sleep better. The effects yoga takes both upon the mind and body help them to shut down and allow us get a better night’s rest.
10. Balance
Balance is important in yoga, and helps both the body and mind to find a balance within and without.
11. Posture
The alignment and posture of your body will naturally improve as your yoga postures become habit, and the more we practice, the more our posture will naturally become more confident and healthy.
12. Body Awareness
How aware of your body are you? By practising yoga, many people find they suddenly become more in-tune with their body and can notice both the strengths and weaknesses of it, thus being able to improve upon certain areas.
13. Core Strength
A core strength is important to keep stable and strong in your muscles, many athletes find that yoga can help this.
14. Mood
Focusing your awareness inward and bringing your attention to both body and mind, rather than outside influences, can elevate your mood.
15. Stress reduction
By using a combination of relaxation methods and body awareness and breathing, we can slowly help to reduce our stress levels,.
16. Self acceptance
Yoga is not about competition, and that includes with yourself. It is all about improvement and practice over time. Becoming aware of your body and mind can help you to see the beauty in yourself.
17. Positive outlook on life
A regular and consistent yoga practice can help to balance hormones and nervous system, thus helping us to have a positive view on things.
18. Memory
Improved blood circulation to the brain as well as the reduction in stress and improved focus results in a better memory.
19. Attention
The attention required in yoga to maintain the structured breathing in conjunction with yoga poses sharpens the ability to keep a sharp focus on tasks.
20. Non-competitive
The introspective and self-building nature of yoga removes any need of competition in the exercise regimen. With the lack of competition, the yogi is free to work slowly to avoid any undue injury as well as promote a more balanced and stress-free workout.