Yoga is an amazing ancient practice that can be helpful for both mental and physical health. People are doing yoga for centuries and today we can profit from it as well. Yoga can help cope with stress, relieve pain, and improve your appearance.
The main advantage of yoga is that almost everyone can become involved in the practice. You need only a mat and a desire to improve your well-being. In this article, we have gathered seven beneficial properties of yoga you shouldn’t neglect.
1. Yoga relieves stress
Yoga is a great remedy for stress since it helps calm down and clear your mind from annoying thoughts. When you practice yoga, your body releases less cortisol (stress hormone). You should also know that increased cortisol levels can lead to depression, high blood pressure, and many other health issues. If you feel stressed or anxious, it’s high time to lay the mat and do yoga.
2. Yoga improves breathing
Your lungs have a certain volume and you need to fill it with air. However, tight clothes and a sedentary lifestyle can interfere with normal breathing. This can result in many problems like a lack of blood oxygen, cyanosis, and respiratory failure. However, there are a lot of yoga poses (asanas) that concentrate on the way you breathe and help improve your breathing.
3. Yoga enhances flexibility
Muscle stiffness is an extremely common issue for many people all over the world. A lack of flexibility can complicate daily routine and make even the simplest actions difficult. When you practice yoga, your muscles stretch and become more flexible. Additionally, yoga helps warm-up your body that also increases flexibility.
4. Yoga helps ease menstrual cramps
Many women have severe menstrual cramps that can interfere with daily activity and cause unbearable pain. Indeed, most OTC painkillers can ease the pain but yoga can also be helpful. Yoga, like any physical activity, boosts the release of endorphins. These chemicals can not only improve your mood, but they can also relieve painful sensations in your body.
5. Yoga helps lose extra pounds
When doing yoga, you need to append some time in a certain position. This improves muscle strength and leads to weight loss. Even though you will not be able to lose a significant number of pounds with the help of yoga, it can still help you maintain normal body weight and create a more attractive shape of your body.
6. Yoga improves posture
Poor posture is a common issue among people who maintain a sedentary lifestyle. When you spend a whole day with a bent back and neck, it may significantly affect your well-being. People with poor posture may experience back pain, digestive issues, breathing difficulties, etc. Regular yoga practice can help strengthen your back muscles that will help hold your spine and improve your posture.
7. Yoga relieves back pain
If you experience back pain after a long working day or poor sleeping position, yoga can help you improve your well being. As mentioned above, yoga helps strengthen your back muscles and this helps prevent the development of pain. However, you should understand that back pain can be caused by certain medical conditions. In this case, it is better to avoid self-treatment and contact a pain management doctor.
The bottom line
In addition to the aforementioned benefits, yoga can also help lower blood sugar, improve your sleep, prevent digestive issues, and relax your body after a long working day. Even if you don’t know anything about yoga, you can watch some online videos about it and start practice. However, it is better to start with simple asanas that don’t require any special skills.