Health Benefits Of Yoga

Wether you are faithful in your yoga practice or just starting out, there are many well-documented health benefits of yoga.

Yoga is a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation.

In class, I often hear that people are sleeping better, have sustained energy throughout the day or clarity of mind as a side effect to their daily practice. When we look at alternative modalities to wellness, practicing yoga is one way to increase vitality.

Varying yoga postures work to increase blood flow in the body, lengthen tendons and tone our muscles. We are working to strengthen and loosen muscles that may not be activated in our day to day routines. Increased balance and flexibility ensues, as well as better posture.

When we speak of balance in yoga, what is being inferred is whatever enhances and affirms life at any particular time and place.

Remember to drink plenty of water before, during and after your practice. We are careful to ensure we are hydrating our cells while pushing our built up toxins and preventing sore muscles due to cramping.

Our breath is a focal point in every practice. Through our breath, we can ease into each pose, release tension, channel subtle energy flows in the body and bring life bringing oxygen into each cell of the body.

Many yoga poses utilize your body weight to create an impactful workout. In weight-bearing exercises, we build bone density. The twisting we do during practice helps to wring out internal organs, drains the body of toxins, allowing cells to be replaced with healthy, optimally functioning cells which uptake the nutrients our bodies need to thrive.

Essentially, building your yoga practice can impact each body system. It has been shown to help to lower blood sugar, boost immunity, regulate adrenal glands, promote a healthy nervous system, improve the proper functioning of lungs and aid in digestion.

There are many different types of yoga you can try to mix up your workouts. A few of the more popular types are:

Bikram: In this class, you will do your practice in a very hot room, up to 105 degrees. Essentially, you are working out in a sauna. You will be guided through 26 poses, each performed twice.

Some studios add infrared heat to help reduce inflammation, sore muscles, boost circulation and drain bodily toxins.

Hatha: This practice refers to any type of yoga practice which teaches physical postures. Hatha focuses on the breath, balance and alignment and opening the body’s energy flow. This practice is generally restorative, a gentle introduction to the yoga postures.

Vinyasa: Another form of hot yoga which adds infrared heat to help reduce inflammation, sore
muscles and helps create circulation and drainage of bodily toxins.

Visit a local studio to try a few different practices and find which is best for you. Right now, you can start reaping the health benefits of yoga by trying one of these sequences.

Health Benefits Of Yoga

Increase energy with sun salutations:

Relieve lower back pain:

References Article Yoga Journal