The Benefits of Yoga

There are many physical and mental benefits to making yoga a regular habit in your life. It can prevent disease and help you recover from it. Nearly 37 million people practice yoga in their home or in yoga studios. With modifications for every yoga pose, it’s easily accessible to all ages.

Yoga impacts the heart and blood. It can lower blood pressure and increase blood flow reducing the chance of blood clots and reduced risk of heart disease. Yoga can lower your blood sugar and LDL (”bad”) cholesterol and boost HDL (”good”) cholesterol. In studies, yoga helped lower the dosages of medications needed in people with asthma, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In some cases, yogi practitioners were able to get off the medications entirely.

When you do yoga, your joints move through a full range of motion, which prevents cartilage and joint breakdown. This leads to better bone health which can ward off osteoporosis. Yoga can boost your metabolism by helping you build muscle mass and this improved muscle strength helps prevent arthritis, osetoporosis, back pain and prevents falls in elderly people. Other physical benefits include improved balance and posture, improved sleep and reduced insomnia and better immune system.

Being present in the moment can provide many mental benefits. You’re better able to handle stress and experience less anxiety. Yoga can increase your serotonin levels, reducing your depressive symptoms. Focusing on your breath during yoga poses increases your body awareness, concentration and mental clarity. You’ll feel more self confidence, self esteem and experience less irritability and anger to everyday situations. Being able to focus on the present and experience calmness can help you fight addictions to food and alcohol.

Before you get started with yoga, it helps to know about a few different types that you can choose from. Vinyasa yoga, also known as flow yoga, focuses on movements combined with breathwork. Bikram yoga, also known as hot yoga, is performed in a room set to 105 degrees and 40% humidity. Restorative yoga uses blankets, bolsters and eye pillows and focuses on relaxing your body and mind for sleep. There are many more but these are the three that I’ve commonly seen available in my local community. I’ve tried vinyasa and restorative yoga but haven’t experienced bikram yoga yet. Remember that yoga can be performed at home or at a yoga studio. It’s up to you on what style you decide to go with. My favorite youtube yogi instructor who posts daily yoga videos is Yoga With Adriene. A paid option is https://www.glo.com/ which has a monthly and annual subscription and provides live and recorded yoga sessions.

References

https://osteopathic.org/what-is-osteopathic-medicine/benefits-of-yoga/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3193654/

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/the-11-major-types-of-yoga-explained-simply

https://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/health/womens-health/count-yoga-38-ways-yoga-keeps-fit/

https://www.ekhartyoga.com/articles/practice/30-benefits-of-a-daily-yoga-practice

https://yogamedicine.com/guide-types-yoga-styles/