A mind, body, breath practice, yoga can transform your life in several ways. It’ jus not about practicing the yoga postures but adapting yoga as a lifestyle. The depth of knowledge and philosophy of yoga says that it provides us a balanced, peaceful and stress-free life.
Breathing for just few minutes makes us calm and peaceful. Meditating for 20 minutes improves the focus, productivity and mental strength. The benefits of yoga are multifold despite the age. The benefits how yoga can help your lifestyle are :
Physical strength, balance and flexibility :
Even if you are not flexible yoga makes you flexible. Practicing yoga and breathwork increases blood flow and warm ups muscle, while holding a pose can build strength. Stronger the muscles, better is our resilience to conditions like arthritis and back pain . It helps us age in a healthy way. Improved flexibility will allow you to gradually practice postures in a better way. Aches and pains will start to disappear.
Yoga helps you manage pain :
When our physical and mental strength is more the ability to manage the pain is higher. Yoga can ease out the pain. Many studies have shown that practicing yoga postures reduces pain for people with various conditions. Yoga also helps to improve body alignment resulting in better posture and pain relief especially in the back, neck, joints and muscles. When we feel better physically, we show up more fully in our lives.
Improvement of cardiovascular health :
Practicing yoga regularly reduces stress, improves blood circulation and oxygen levels. Inflammation reduces, toxins get thrown out and heart health improves,the factors contributing to heart disease including high blood pressure and excess weight can also be worked out with yoga. Even a few basic stretches and asanas can provide cardiovascular benefits by lowering your resting heart rate, increasing your endurance and improving your oxygen uptake during exercise.
Improvement in lungs health:
Breathing practices and asanas which open up the heart, chest and lungs improve respiratory health. The muscles get stronger, breathing patterns are corrected and unwanted particles get thrown out. Mindfulness improves which allows you to breathe better and fully.
De-stressed and better sleep :
Yoga practices help calm the ‘monkey mind’, switch off from the day’s tasks and activities and get a restful night’s sleep. A little bit of yoga before bedtime and help you release stress from the day and sleep better. Yoga’s impact on managing stress is significant. Through deep breathing and relaxation, yoga helps lower cortisol levels, balance the nervous system and activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
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Energizes you :
Very often our bodies hold tension and blockages in many parts. Practicing yoga helps us release these blockages, improves the flow of prana (vital life force) and infuses the body with energy. We begin to feel a boost in alertness and enthusiasm with fewer negative feelings. A yoga class leaves you feeling energetic and happy.
Cultivates compassion and kindness :
Yoga has a profound effect on the self. Since it makes us happier and less stressed, we feel more positive and compassionate towards ourselves and others. We approach people and situations with kindness, rather than any negative emotion. Yoga also reduces feelings of loneliness and isolation. There are many more positive ways in which yoga improves your lifestyle. You will experience sustained and healthy weight loss, better habits and routine, mindful eating, better immunity, improved productivity and focus, among others etc.