The Benefits Of Yoga Practices For Physical And Mental Health

Have you ever taken a yoga class? If your answer is “yes,” you are one of 36. 7 million people practicing yoga in the United States. If your answer is “no,” it is never too late to try. I learned this directly in 2010, when due to some depression, I sought out new activities to help me recover. First, I took some dance classes. While dance was fun, it was not healing. One day I met a friend I had not seen in a while. She insisted that I try a yoga class with her. After just the first class I become addicted to yoga. I found that my interest was inspired by the numerous benefits of yoga practice. The exceptional combination of music, meaningful words of encouragement from the instructor, and the simplicity of the postures created an environment that made me feel calm, relaxed, and peaceful. I felt happier, healthier, and stronger. I quickly realized that yoga is not just about attending class. It is a multifaceted process, which requires emotional readiness to practice, focused performance of the poses and exercises, and a peaceful state of mind after practice. In my opinion, yoga is a universal activity that can be practiced by anyone, in any age group, who is looking to heal their body through physical activity and their mind through meditation.

So, what is yoga? Wikipedia defines yoga as a “physical and meditative spiritual practice from ancient India, which uses breathing techniques, exercises and meditation helping to improve health and happiness. ” This oldest physical discipline, created in India more than 5,000 years ago, got its name from Sanskrit, where the word yoga means “yoke” or “union”. In general, people believe that yoga is about meditation or healing from depression. More simply, as my mother once said, it is an activity when you are “staying in crazy poses for a while. ” Many people even think yoga is boring or too easy to count as physical exercise. Yet, yoga is not just one type of practice. In fact, yoga is practiced for numerous reasons and in multiple ways. The only way to fully grasp the potential of yoga, and the only way to truly understand the purpose and spirit of yoga, is to take a class and figure out what it means for yourself. Thankfully, yoga is easily accessible because classes can be taken not only in an indoor studio, but also anywhere where there is enough space for movement, such as in a home, a park, a beach, or even in water.

According to yoga studies, there are 84 basic ancient yoga poses and nearly 19 different types of yoga practice. Yoga practices vary by level, skill, and goal. Some yoga practices are very unique, and even shocking. For example, people who enjoy saunas or steam rooms can try a challenging type of yoga called “Bikram,” which is held in hot, artificially heated rooms, where the temperature rises to 105 Fahrenheit (40. 5 Celsius) or higher. Another interesting yoga type, becoming more popular in Europe and the United States, is Naked Yoga. This type of yoga allows practitioners to practice without clothing, not only at home or in nature, but also in group classes. This is certainly not for everyone, but many find this type of yoga empowering. For experienced practitioners, who might be bored with traditional classes or are looking for a challenge, a great option is standing paddle board yoga, which is performed on a paddleboard on water. There is even laughter yoga, which allows those experiencing everyday stress and anxiety to practice laughing exercises as they explore each pose. The benefits of yoga are numerous. According to the 2016 Yoga in America Study conducted by Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance, the top five benefits of yoga are flexibility, stress relief, general fitness, improve overall health, and physical fitness. While many people know that overall health is one of the main benefits, not everyone knows the extent to which yoga heals our bodies. First, the immune system becomes stronger and protects the body from diseases and infections. Yoga also eases digestion, prevents migraines, controls asthma and bronchitis, reduces blood pressure, keeps the heart healthy, prevents Alzheimer’s disease, and alleviates asthma symptoms. According to my own experience, regular practice reduces back pain, increases flexibility, and improves sleep quality. One recent study has confirmed that yoga reduced inflammation and increased energy for women with breast cancer. British studies have linked the practice of yoga during pregnancy to shorter labor length and less labor pain.

The practice of yoga also helps lose weight and reduces cellulite through muscle stretching. 'Regular yoga practice can influence weight loss, but not in the ‘traditional’ sense of how we link physical activity to weight loss. . . Many yoga practices burn fewer calories than traditional exercise (e. g. , jogging, brisk walking); however, yoga can increase one's mindfulness and the way one relates to their body,” noted Jessica Smith in Shape Magazine. In their interviews actresses Jennifer Aniston, Liv Tyler, Halle Berry, singer Madonna, and supermodel Christy Turlington all agreed that yoga helps to lose extra pounds, keeps one in shape, and develops health-eating habits.

People can practice yoga at any age because no one is too young or too old for yoga. In fact, increasingly more seniors are taking yoga classes because the practice helps them stay healthier. Yoga improves numerous health conditions experienced by seniors, such as poor blood circulation, high blood pressure, arthritis, osteoporosis, asthma, and lower back pain. Along with benefits such as increasing strength and stability, yoga helps seniors prevent injury while reducing anxiety. Seniors should of course practice yoga under the guidance of certified instructors, which helps prevent injuries. Just last year researchers noted that nearly 30,000 yoga-related injuries were reported by those 65 years old and older between 2001 to 2014. Certified instructors are key to assure that any practitioner, regardless of age, can practice safely.

Yoga is also beneficial for children. Unfortunately, many parents do not recognize that yoga can be important in early development. The good news is that new study in 2016 found that about 37% of the practitioners’ kids under the age of 18 also practiced yoga. Yoga teaches kids how to focus, encourages them to remain physically active, and helps build confidence during key points of development. Many public schools are also starting to recognize the benefit of incorporating yoga into the daily routine of students to help lower stress and inspire focused learning.

It is not surprising that students are finding yoga helpful in finding focus and calm during stressful periods. Meditation is a vital component of yoga practice, enabling practitioners are achieve a calm and relaxed state. “A lot of people have this idea that meditation means sitting down and doing nothing, but that’s not true. Meditation is an active training of the mind to increase awareness”, says Madhav Goyal, an Indian doctor, who researches the effects of meditation on overall health. In our fast-paced life, it is not easy to sit and relax without thinking of everyday routines, family, and work problems, but as soon you understand how to focus on your mind and separate yourself from the anxiety, you can realize the nature of meditation and its importance for a healthy state of mind. In a recent study, neuroscientists from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School found that meditation not only reduces stress, but also changes brain structure. The experiment involved participants completing a mindfulness-based stress reduction program over an eight-week period. The research showed thickening in certain regions of the brain, which are responsible for mind wandering, self-relevance, learning, cognition, memory, and emotional regulation. In contrast, the areas linked to anxiety and fear grew smaller.

Yoga is universal because it connects the mind, body, and soul. It is universal because it combines postures, breathing and mental concentration. Yoga is universal because it can be practiced by everyone regardless of age, and in any location. If you want to live a longer and healthier life, consider yoga. I love doing yoga because it shows me who I am, helps me to look inside of me to discover my spirit, strengths, and weaknesses. I am grateful for the moments in my life when I was engaged in yoga practice, as those moments gave me energy to overcome challenges and grow as a person. “Yoga is possible for anybody who really wants it. Yoga is universal…” said Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois, the Indian yoga teacher.