One of the many misconceptions about yoga is that it is solely for women. This is certainly not true; many athletes and novices can benefit from this rewarding pastime. Another myth is that yoga is only for ‘spiritual types’, who drink green tea and wear a braid in their hair (not that there is anything wrong with this at all). People from all walks of life use yoga as a way to improve their body, mind and overall wellbeing. Live to 100 is here to give you the lowdown on the benefits of yoga, after which you will be eager to try it too—we guarantee.
Physical Benefits
• Reduces chronic pain. One of the lesser-known benefits of yoga is that it alleviates pain. Methods such as restorative yoga have been studied rigorously and often have positive results with chronic pain.
• Increases flexibility. Certain yoga poses are effective in lengthening your spine and stretching your muscles. In turn, this can dramatically improve flexibility. Remember: this doesn’t happen overnight—it takes hard work and dedication.
• Increases energy levels. Yoga poses are a great way to come out of an afternoon sluggish slump. It is more healthy than coffee and will awaken your senses. Try a Warror II or Vinyasa pose to feel more energised.
• Improves muscle strength and toning. One of the main benefits of yoga is muscle strengthening, although skeptics often overlook this. While yoga cannot add extra muscle mass, the tightening and loosening of muscles does contribute to toning.
• Better cardio and circulatory health. Yoga is known to improve a number of heart health issues such as ischaemic heart disease. While yoga alone may not yield these results, it has proven in various medical studies to be effective— when alongside a healthy diet.
• Improves athletic performance. Improvement in posture increases repertory capacity, and in turn improves capability of endurance and stamina. These are vital components for athletic performance.
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Mental Benefits
• Manages stress. Through breathing exercises and relaxation sessions, yoga has the ability to reduce stress levels and relieve chronic stress. Its ability to release tension within the body is also echoed in the state of mind after a session. Learning the rhythms of your body and understanding your triggers is key for mastering these techniques.
• Reduces anxiety and low mood. Some of the key practices of yoga are centered on positivity, making it a great method for dealing with depression and anxiety. A study, conducted in Massachusetts General Hospital in 2013, revealed the psychological state of rest induced by specific yoga postures and techniques made a notable change to insulin secretion and energy metabolism.
• Deals with anger issues. Much like its ability to deal with stress, ancient teachings of yoga can impart advice on coping mechanisms—allowing you to deal with anger without repressing it. Many people forget that yoga also includes meditation techniques, which are fantastic for tackling anger issues.
• Improves focus. One of the eight limbs of yoga has a specific purpose of strengthening one’s ability to concentrate and focus the mind. The constant practice of yoga can even boost serotonin levels in the brain, helping you to clear your mind and focus on important tasks.
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