Thanks to our small, sophisticated world which freely makes us a chronic patient to stress, tension, depression, anxiety, heart issues, eating disorder and so on and on even without we welcoming them. For people like me, the choice of medication is a complete no-no. Common excuse ” Busy and hectic life takes away all our time”. But not anymore, if you want a healthy-fit life!!
If you are a diligent yoga practitioner, you would definitely be experiencing the benefits – calm and relaxed mind, better sleep, proper food habits, increase in strength, less prey to sickness and other health-related issues and more importantly happy and peaceful from within.
Derived from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which means “to add”, “to unite”, “to join”, yoga is an ancient practice in India bringing together the mind and body. It is much more than physical exercise. Yoga came into the limelight in West only in the 20th Century. Based on the study and research by scholars, practitioners and philosophers about the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of Yoga, the increase in the number of people, health and fitness clubs, educational institutions and medical institutes practising yoga is substantial.
This is the first and foremost benefit of yoga. You may find difficult to stretch, bend or squeeze in at first. That’s absolutely fine! Practising at own pace understanding your body and mind will help overcome the difficulty and puts you at ease. With regular and diligent practise you will not only find a remarkable notice in your body and posture but also non-doable asanas/exercises will be possible. There will be no aches or pains, your body starts loosening, fatigue and inflexible muscles become active.
One thing which we can’t live without… isn't it? Unfortunately, it has no benefit. Studies show that Yoga has the ability to ease stress, promote relaxation and reduce the levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Proper and regular flow and supply of blood to various parts of the body muscles, nerves, tissues and organs are essential for a normal human being to function seamlessly. Statistics show more than 80% of the people face CVDs (cardiovascular deaths) due to Ischemic heart disease and stroke. Yoga may help improve heart health and reduce several risk factors for heart disease.
As said by someone “A healthy mind leads to a healthy body” is very true. Being present at the moment plays an important role in whatever we do. Paying attention to the taste, smell and texture of the food while eating not only makes you feel, think and experience about the food but also what the food is. This practice has been shown to promote healthy eating habits that help control blood sugar, increase weight loss and treat disordered eating behaviours. Yoga encourages mindfulness, which may be used to help promote mindful eating and healthy eating habits.
Poor sleep quality leads to obesity, high blood pressure, depression and other health disorders. Studies and researches show that people those who practice yoga are less prone to sleeping disorder and need less amount of medications. Yoga may help enhance sleep quality because of its effects on melatonin and its impact on several common contributors to sleep problems.
Yoga helps to enhance the quality of life for many individuals. Studies show that seniors who practised yoga noticed a remarkable change in the quality of life, mood as well as fatigue. It has also helped patients to reduce the symptoms of cancer. For women, yoga has helped reduce stress, feel more relaxed, less pain and aches. Incorporating yoga into your daily routine may enhance spiritual well-being, improve social network and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
In addition to improving strength, yoga can be a great form of exercise in enhancing your strength. There are specific asanas designed to build body and muscle strength if practised regularly. It also helps in weight loss, increases endurance and flexibility.
Yoga helps the proper circulation of blood. The relaxation exercises facilitate the flow of blood, especially in your hands and feet. Yoga also gets more oxygen to the cells which result in better functioning. Twisting poses help to weed out venous blood and allow oxygenated blood to flow in once the twist is completed. Inverted asanas like headstand, shoulder stand, Handstand allows the venous blood from legs and pelvis to flow back to the heart to be pumped to the lungs where it allows the oxygenated flow of blood. Yoga also increases the haemoglobin and red blood cells which carry oxygen to the tissues.
A vital benefit of yoga is improving concentration. Studies have shown people who practice yoga demonstrated better coordination, memory, reaction time and IQ scores. It is also said that people who practise Transcendental Meditation have the ability to solve problems and acquire and recall information better—probably because they’re less distracted by their thoughts.
Improves Breathing: Pranayama, or yogic breathing, is a practice of yoga that focuses on controlling the breath through breathing exercises and techniques. Incorporating various breathing exercises could improve your breathing and lung function.
Multiple studies have confirmed the many mental and physical benefits of yoga. No gym. No fitness clubs, no shelling out that extra penny from your pocket. Incorporating it into your routine can help enhance your health, increase strength and flexibility and reduce symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety. Finding the time to practice yoga just a few times per week may be enough to make a phenomenal difference when it comes to your health.