The Benefits of Yoga
January 21, 2018
The beginnings of yoga were developed by Northern Indians thousands of years ago. It physical and meditation techniques have also been passed down through the ages because of its proven results to improve the longevity and overall wellbeing of a person. Its helps with progressive muscle relaxation, breath control, reducing chronic pain and headaches, and reduce insomnia so you are able to sleep better. There are tons of benefits in practicing yoga that you might not have known about and here are a few:
Increasing your flexibility
Stretching your body out daily will help decrease resistance in muscle tissue because blood is being released to your body. Yoga will help increase your range of motion throughout the day so that you have optimal, mental and physical performance a school or work. With increased flexibility, you are able to avoid constant backaches and cramps.
Stronger muscles
Yoga helps to strengthen not only your bones, but your muscles too. In order to reap most of the benefit, you’ll need to practice consistently because unlike HITT or weight training, yoga utilises core strength and takes more skill and patience to succeed; but with determination, like other high intensity workouts done on a regular basis, you will develop a more well defined body.
Regulates blood flow
There are so many asanas (yoga poses) that help regulate blood circulation to different parts of the body - Warrior 1, 2 and 3, Uttkatasana Chair Pose, Pyramid Pose to name a few. Getting your heart pumping and your blood flowing helps the venous blood flow out through releasing sweat and also help oxygenated blood reach the organs. On top of that, it also aids regulation of hemoglobins and red blood cell levels.
Controls Blood Pressure
Yoga is a form of therapy that helps you control your blood pressure naturally. Meditative postures like Savasana (lying flat down on your back), although simple, will help sooth busy minds and bring about a peaceful and quiet state of mind and body. Tranquil and relaxing postures helps us turn on our parasympathetic nervous systems which enables our tired bodies to repair and relax itself after a long day.
Sharpens Focus
One of the important fundamentals of yoga is to focus on the present - by taking slow, deep and controlled breaths. With proper breath control as you flow through the poses, you are able to develop mental toughness to handle stressful or noisy situations both on and off the mat. Try to spend 10 mins each day in the morning and before you go to bed to listen to relaxing music or white noise while focusing on taking equal breaths. This helps you start your day with clarity and calmness and prepares your body for a restful sleep in the evening.