The Health Benefits of Yoga

The Health Benefits of Yoga: Why Everyone Should Do It

Yoga is an increasingly popular practice, now offered in most gyms and workout studios across the U.S. But why are so many people drawn to it? What is the big deal?

The big deal is the amount of health benefits from practicing yoga. Flexibility is often what comes to mind when one thinks of yoga; but there are more benefits to yoga than just becoming flexible.

The first thing that yoga teaches is breathing and meditation. Meditation has long been used to fight stress and depression, as well as heighten your awareness of your mind and body in harmony. Meditation is essentially a concentration on what is going on at present. Meditation slows the breathing and heart rate, and increases the alpha, theta, and delta brain waves, which are the physiological opposites of a stress response.

Yoga also has great physical benefits, first and foremost being flexibility. You can reach around to scratch the middle of your back without feeling like you have to dislocate your shoulder to do it. You can bend down to smell the flowers and not worry about being able to stand back up. Flexibility also means your joints are healthier, which can help prevent injury and treat mild forms of arthritis and fibromyalgia.

Another physical benefit of yoga is the ability to achieve strength in your entire body, starting with your core. A strong core also carries with it a stronger lower back. Many people have some form of a lower back injury or weakness and keeping your core strong is essential in maintaining a healthy back.

Balance is crucial in life. Standing yoga poses encourage your body and mind to learn how to achieve and maintain balance. There are also arm balancing poses that increase the strength in your arms and shoulders.

Yoga teaches you how to maintain strength and agility and balance in your body and your mind. Yoga can be as relaxing or as intense as you want it to be. Yoga can be tailored to you and your body and your needs. Go ahead, give it a try.