Yoga is a mental, physical and spiritual practice that has been around for ages since there are number of health and physical benefits associated with it. Yoga is essentially a workout that involves both both and mind. International Yoga Day is also celebrated all around the globe on 21st June, every year, to increase awareness about the positive impacts of yoga. So, why not use this day as an excuse to start a good habit and to promise yourself to lead a healthier lifestyle? Here are 12 benefits that you can procure by practicing yoga on a regular basis.
1. It improves your overall body posture.
Yoga asanas like the tree pose, the mountain pose and cat cow pose help to improve the posture. These asanas also help in preventing pain in the neck and the lower back.
2. It is good for those who wish to shed some kilos.
Sun Salutation and Kapal Bhati pranayama are highly recommended for losing weight. Regular practice will make you more aware of your body and its needs. This helps to keep a check on your food intake and body weight.
3. It improves blood circulation in your body and ensures proper functioning of the body.
Yoga helps in blood circulation as it increases oxygen supply to your cells which in turn, improves the functioning of the body. Poses like the headstand, handstand, and shoulder-stand, encourages venous blood from the legs and pelvis to flow back to the heart, where it can be pumped to the lungs to be freshly oxygenated. It also helps in boosting hemoglobin levels and red blood cells which aide in carrying oxygen to the tissues.
4. It helps in building your muscle strength and improving stamina.
Yoga helps in building strong muscles and protecting us from conditions like arthritis and back pain. It also improves the flexibility and stamina.
5. It helps in coping with stress, anxiety and depression.
Yoga helps in coping with stress that can take a toll on your body and mind. It is quite effective in developing coping skills and reaching a more positive outlook on life. Practicing yoga on a regular basis helps in increasing a person's mental well-being. It improves mental clarity, calmness, body awareness and sharpens concentration.
6. It improves your sleep quality and keeps insomnia at bay.
Restorative asanas like savasana, pranayama, and meditation help in relaxing the nervous system which in turn, improves the quality of sleep because these asanas will make you less tired and less stressed out.
7. It helps in improving your relationship as it encourages mindfulness.
Yoga can aide in improving relationships with your loved ones as it encourages inner peace and clarity of mind. It helps you relax and makes you happy so that you can deal with sensitive relationship matters in a better way. Combine yoga and meditation together to attain a peaceful mind.
8. It keeps bacteria and viruses at bay by boosting your immunity.
Yoga asanas and postures help in boosting the immune system. It improves the functioning of all body parts and helps in destroying bacteria and viruses that could cause damage to your immune system. In short, yoga helps to fight off diseases.
9. It increases your self-esteem, awareness and self-confidence.
Yoga helps you to explore the different side of you. It increases an individuals confidence, self-esteem and makes you feel good about yourself and your life. It encourages you to take a positive approach in life.
10. It improves the functioning of your heart by improving blood pressure levels.
Yoga helps in reducing high blood pressure, bad cholesterol and stress all of which, are risk factors for heart disease. Performing savasana (corpse pose) aides in improving blood pressure to a great extent.
11. It aides proper functioning of your lungs by keeping respiratory problems at bay.
Practicing breathing exercises can improve lung function and also cure respiratory problems. Deep breathing also increases the capacity of your lungs.
12. It helps you to take control of your emotions and thoughts.
Yoga and meditation helps to build awareness and take control of your emotions. Practicing yoga helps in reducing anger by increasing feelings of compassion and interconnection by calming the nervous system and the mind. It also increases your ability to step back and reflect on life.
Say 'yes' to a healthier lifestyle.