To me, maintaining a regular yoga practice can provide physical and mental health benefits and it sure is a tool to help me stay healthy.
'The purpose of yoga is to build strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body,'
While there are more than 100 different types of yoga, most soft them typically include breathing exercises, meditation, and assuming postures (sometimes called asana or poses) that stretch and flex various muscle groups. And this sure help me relax and stretch out my muscles after strength training.
1. Physical benefits
The relaxation techniques incorporated in yoga can lessen chronic pain, such as lower back pain, headaches, etc. As well lower blood pressure and reduce insomnia. (this, you should try on a days, that keeps you wide awake ;)).
Other physical benefits of yoga might also include;
- Increased flexibility
- Increased muscle strength and tone
- Improved respiration, energy and vitality
- Maintaining a balanced metabolism
- Weight reduction
- Cardio and circulatory health
- Improved athletic performance
- Protection from injury
2. Mental benefits
Aside from the physical benefits, one of the best benefits of yoga is how it helps you, as a person, manage stress, which is known to have devastating effects on the body and mind. Trust me. Stress can reveal itself in many ways, including back or neck pain, sleeping problems, headaches, drug abuse (sleeping pills, etc), and an inability to concentrate. And yoga can be very effective in developing coping skills and reaching a more positive outlook on life.
Yoga’s incorporation of meditation and breathing can also help improve your mental well-being, as regular yoga practice creates
- Mental clarity and calmness
- Increases body awareness
- Relieves chronic stress patterns
- Relaxes the mind
- Centers attention
- Sharpens concentration
To me, overall, body and self-awareness are particularly very beneficial and because can help with early detection of physical problems and therefore allow for early preventive action.
It's all about yoga and breathing in between my 'heavy' workouts and I am certainly enjoying the benefits it bring.
What do you do - to calm yourself down and get rid of daily stress?
Let me know how you're going on, will you.
Until next time, S.
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