Yoga is a spiritual and ascetic discipline with its roots in India. Thanks to global media exposure, yoga is now popular across the world. The influx of yoga influencers, social media posts, YouTube channels and a lot more online material revolving around yoga has only motivated a lot of us to practice yoga regularly. But yoga is a lot more than just bodily poses – it is a blend of breathing techniques, contemplation, simple meditation and a set of bodily postures. Needless to say, this relaxing practice has numerous benefits as well.
So if you’ve been considering taking up yoga and require some motivation to do so, here are some benefits of Yoga that will convince you to practice it regularly:
Boosts Mental Health
Peace of mind is one of the most common reasons why people turn to yoga. When done right, yoga can help regulate and streamline the chaos, turmoil and incessant thoughts in our minds. Yoga can also help tackle symptoms of mental health illnesses such as depression and anxiety over time. It can also help you control your stress. With increased mental and physical strength, you’re sure to witness a boost in your energy levels and enthusiasm. To reap the benefits of yoga, it’s essential to practice it regularly and properly, under the right guidance of an experienced teacher.
Improves Quality of Sleep
When you’re at peace and in a relaxed state of mind, it ultimately translates into a good night’s sleep. Yoga gives you the ability to calm your mind and declutter it so that you can have a clear headspace every night before you hit the sack. You can practice a consistent bedtime yoga routine to ensure you have a sound sleep through the night.
Improves Flexibility of the Body
Flexibility is an important aspect of the physical health of our body. Yoga is the perfect way to get started if you’re looking to boost your flexibility. The best part is that you can begin with easy postures and progress to moderate and difficult poses. As you progress through your yoga journey, you’ll witness how yoga not only boosts but maintains the flexibility of your body over time.
Regulates Cardiovascular Functions
With systematic and controlled breathing, yoga can actually help improve several key functions in our body, including the functioning of our heart and the overall neurological system of the body. For example, the overall regulation of cardiovascular functioning helps cut down blood pressure risks, heart attacks and even stroke. Yoga also helps our bodies tackle inflammation, which is the root cause of heart ailments and other chronic illnesses.
Improves Your Posture and Alleviates Muscle Strain
The hectic lives we live have us hunched over smartphones at home and laptops at work. Unfortunately, this leaves us with a bad posture, which, if left unattended, can also result in pain in the back. The prime focus of yoga is to boost flexibility and mobility to improve the alignment of the spine. It also relaxes tight muscles and alleviates back pain, a common consequence of sitting for long hours at the desk. In fact, rather than popping painkillers, it’s best to address the root cause of your chronic pains and practice yoga as a first step towards healing.
Helps You Build a Community
Yoga sessions can help you bond with a group of like-minded people. A group of people practising yoga sessions together can create an environment for support and healing. You can learn, grow and evolve together on this journey to get better, physically and mentally.
Summing Up
It’s important to note that along with regular and proper yoga practice, it’s important to have a properly balanced diet. Only then can you reap the benefits of the practice of yoga. When you focus on keeping your mind and body healthy, you need to have a comprehensive approach, as merely practising yoga will not help. Therefore, it’s advisable to have a diet full of healthy and nutritious foods and a dedicated practice of yoga.
