10 benefits of doing Yoga

Doing yoga is way more than just posing, take a look at why yoga is not only good for the body but good for the mind and spirit at well.

If you think yoga just consists of people doing weird poses on a mat, then you only have a slight hint of what yoga is. Yoga is more than just poses. Derived from the Sankrit word “yuj” which means to unite or integrate, yoga is a 5,000 year old Indian body of knowledge. Yoga is all about harmonizing the body with the mind and breath through various breathing techniques, yoga postures and meditation. Yoga has many benefits that can be great for any and every one that does it.

Boosts your mood-Yoga is like a natural mood stabilizer. Consistent yoga practice can ease depression and lead to a significant increase in serotonin levels.

Builds muscle strength-We have muscles for more reasons than to just look built. Having strong muscles can protect you from having conditions like arthritis and back pain.

Drops your blood pressure-If you suffer from high blood pressure, chances are you will benefit from yoga (and a lot of other exercises as well). After a few months of doing yoga your blood pressure can drop tremendously.

Eases your pain-Yoga can reduce many different types of pain. Yoga has reduced pain in individuals that have arthritis, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and other illnesses.

Gives you inner strength-This may sound like an exaggeration but it is a reality. Yoga can help you make changes in your life. Tapas, the Sanskrit word for “heat,” is the fire, the discipline that fuels yoga practice. The tapas you create can be extended to the rest of your life to change bad habits. You may find that without making an effort to do so, you start to eat better and exercise more.

Helps you focus-An important element of yoga is focusing on the present. Studies have found that regular yoga practice improves coordination, reaction time, memory, and even IQ scores. So if you’re a student it would be beneficial to invest in a yoga DVD and a yoga mat.

Improves flexibility-One of the most obvious benefits of doing yoga is improved flexibility. During your first yoga class you may not even be able to touch your toes, but as time goes on you may be as flexible as a level 5 gymnast.

Improves your balance-Regularly practicing yoga increases proprioception (the ability to feel what your body is doing and where it is in space) and improves balance. People with poor posture usually have poor proprioception, which has been linked to knee problems and back pain. No one wants to have back pain especially early in life. Also if you are a dancer or cheerleader, you can benefit greatly from having amazing balance.

Improves your posture-Our heads are like volleyballs, big, hard and heavy. It takes a lot of work for our backs, shoulders and necks to support it. Hold up that volleyball for 8-10 hours a day and no wonder you’re tired. Practicing yoga can help strengthen all of those muscles.

Ups your heart rate-When you regularly get your heart rate into the aerobic range, you lower your risk of cardiac arrest and can ease depression. Not all yoga is aerobic, but even yoga exercises that don’t get your heart rate up that high can improve cardiovascular conditioning.