There are many forms of exercise, such as weight training, aerobics, flexibility training, and so on. However, very few exercise forms are as balanced as yoga.
Although yoga is not a high-intensity workout, it is amazingly good for strength building, flexibility, stress reduction, and more. It is equally suitable for physical and mental well-being.
Yoga is unique because it is suitable for any age group, which means it is equally good for young and old individuals. Yet, another positive point of yoga is its sustainability, meaning it is easy to practice consistently for a long.
Physical Benefits of Yoga
Yoga can be quite good for building physical strength and flexibility. It shares some traits with calisthenics. Moreover, it is even good for people living with various health conditions.
- Flexibility Improvement: Doing yoga requires lots of flexibility. However, there are more accessible poses to get started with. One can gradually build on those poses and then progress to more complex poses needing greater flexibility. It is something very important for long-term health and vitality.(1)
- Strength Building: Quite like calisthenics, yoga uses body weight to build various muscles. Moreover, yoga poses are complex, and each pose helps build multiple muscles, increasing strength.
- Enhanced Posture and Balance: Although young people do not realize the importance of posture and balance, these things increasingly become important with aging. Enhancing posture and balance can help prevent injuries, help people age gracefully, stay active, and prevent falls and injuries.
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Boosts Metabolism: Yoga is often used to slow aging and prevent ailments. It works, as it can boost metabolism. However, to experience such an effect, one must practice yoga consistently. Additionally, do not forget to practice a yogic lifestyle, which means increasing your intake of plant-based foods high in micronutrients and antioxidants, staying calm, practicing mindfulness and gratitude, living a simple lifestyle, and more.
Mental Benefits of Yoga
One of the reasons for yoga’s popularity is that it is not just for physical health. These days, mental health issues like depression and anxiety are pretty common, and yoga may help prevent and even overcome these conditions.
- Stress Reduction: Although exercise would help counter stress, yoga is particularly good at it. Many studies show that regular yoga helps alter stress coping power and lowers cortisol levels. It is also good for reducing anxiety.(2)
- Enhances Mental Clarity and Concentration: Yoga is also about focusing on body movements. Every body movement is done mindfully. This enhances mental clarity and concentration in the long run. Moreover, one may also include meditation in yoga sessions.
- Mood Improvement and Emotional Stability: Many people switch to yoga as they cannot benefit from other strategies. Yoga is known to improve mood and enhance emotional stability. For maximum benefit, make yoga your lifestyle.
Emotional and Spiritual Benefits
Yoga is not a religion, but it does have spiritual benefits. Spirituality is part of yoga; without focusing on it, one cannot expect adequate benefits from its practice.
- Connection to Self: Through the practice of yoga postures (asanas), breathwork (pranayama), and meditation, one is encouraged to explore their body, mind, and emotions and become more self-aware. Yoga is also about learning to listen to your body. Some advanced practitioners may become so self-aware that they can even influence body functions through their thoughts when practicing yoga.
- Cultivating Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness is an integral part of yoga. Yoga encourages individuals to focus on their thoughts, sensations, and emotions without judgment. In the long run, this may help alter thinking patterns and how one emotionally reacts to various events.
Yoga for Everyone
It is true that any lifestyle intervention works better when started earlier. However, it is never too early or too late to get started with yoga. One reason people are attracted to yoga is that anyone can start practicing it. Even those living with disabilities and certain diseases are known to have benefited from yoga. Further, it is safe and good for older adults, helping boost flexibility, control, balance, and physical and mental health, and even helping reverse certain chronic ailments.
Conclusion
Yoga is not your regular workout, and it’s a complete solution to well-being. One does not need any preparation or fitness level to get started with yoga. It is equally good for people of various ages and different backgrounds. Most importantly, it promotes a highly sustainable lifestyle, which means that one can readily practice it daily for years without getting tired or bored. It is a complete package that is good for both physical and mental well-being.
References
- Polsgrove MJ, Eggleston BM, Lockyer RJ. Impact of 10-weeks of yoga practice on flexibility and balance of college athletes. Int J Yoga. 2016;9(1):27–34.
- Woodyard C. Exploring the therapeutic effects of yoga and its ability to increase quality of life. Int J Yoga. 2011;4(2):49–54.