Why is Yoga Good For You?

Physical and mental benefits

July 8, 2020

According to the American Osteopathic Association, the main purpose of yoga is to strengthen the awareness and harmony of your body and mind. It obviously has advantages, otherwise, nobody would do it. We reveal the main benefits of yoga from health’s perspective.

There are many different types of yoga but all of them mainly focus on correct breathing, meditation, and poses that stretch different muscle groups.

There are two main distributions of health effects on your body, namely physical and mental. Firstly, physical benefits are mainly the result of “ashanas”, i.e. yoga body postures. Either simple or complex, practicing ashanas have many advantages. Secondly, mental benefits are as important as physical ones. They are mainly impacted by meditation and breathing exercises (prayanas) when doing yoga.

PHYSICAL BENEFITS OF YOGA

1. GREATER FLEXIBILITY

Keeping your joints, tendons, and muscles limber is essential for avoiding injuries like back and neck pain.

2. IMPROVED MUSCLE STRENGTH

Versatile asanas strengthen every muscle in the body, making it an effective strength-building workout.

3. REDUCED RISK OF HEART DISEASE

All types of yoga improve the cardiovascular system by lowering your heart rate and decreasing blood pressure.

4. IMPROVED ENDURANCE

Athletic yoga types can improve your physical stamina. They require mental and physical strength in order to stay in motion between the poses. It is a perfect cross-training exercise, due to the emphasis on precise alignment and technique.

5. DECREASED BODY FAT AND OVERALL BODY WEIGHT

A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, showed that yoga offers physical effects that make it a useful tool for healthy and sustainable weight loss. Yoga practitioners have reported less stress eating, reduced appetite, fewer cravings, and more mindful eating habits.

6. PAIN RELIEF

In a study on chronic back pain individuals, conducted by Annals of Internal Medicine, yoga practitioners showed better back function only after a few months of exercise. Therapeutic and restorative yoga styles can reduce or even eliminate chronic pain.

7. ASTHMA RELIEF

The breathing part of yoga, called pranayama, has a substantial positive impact on individuals with asthma. It has been shown, that yoga helps to ease the symptoms of this disease.

8. STRONGER IMMUNE SYSTEM

Deep meditation sessions can strengthen the body’s immune system, allowing it to fight bacteria and viruses more effectively. Furthermore, regular practice will also increase the body’s ability to release toxins from organs.

MENTAL BENEFITS

1. IMPROVED STRESS MANAGEMENT

The latest is nowadays the main reason for numerous kinds of health issues such as back and neck pain, inability to concentrate, sleeping, and fertility problems.

2. FIGHT AGAINST DEPRESSION

A study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine has looked at the brain scans of people practicing yoga and the ones who do not do it. The result was that yoga practitioners had higher levels of neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric (GABA), which’s low levels are linked to depression and anxiety.

3. MAKES YOU HAPPIER

Practicing yoga increases the level of serotonin hormone, a neurotransmitter that sends signals between nerve cells and the brain. It is known as the “happy chemical” because its high levels lead to a better mood.

4. MEMORY BOOST

In a smaller study at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paolo, researchers have found out that yoga-loving pensioners had a thicker prefrontal cortex. This is the part of the brain associated with complex cognition, including memory.

People who practice yoga on a regular basis witness mental clarity and calmness. They manage stress better and feel more relaxed. Due to decreased stress levels, they manage to perform better at their daily tasks and can concentrate better as well. So if you haven’t started with yoga, we strongly recommend doing so. Finding your inner peace, your state of mind, and freedom of movement is definitely the key to handling the everyday pressures of fast phase lifestyles we are living.

Yoga is about freedom of movement. Freeflow body gestures should not be limited by an external factor like clothing fabrics. Therefore, we at MAYA MAYA have yoga pants and shirt collection endorsed by the finest 4-way-stretch that will give you a soft and unimpeded feeling to your yoga session.