The Benefits of Yoga

It is an unfortunate fact that stress levels, obesity, depression and other preventable diseases are on the rise all around the world. Factors like our work, our lifestyles, how connected we are to social media and the foods we eat can all contribute in different ways to this increasing state of poor health. Often what we need to do to get back on the path to better health is to take a break, have a breather and spend some time connecting with ourselves. This is where regularly practicing something like yoga becomes incredibly useful and powerful.

Yoga, in its many forms, has been around for thousands of years. The term yoga comes from the Sanskrit word Yuj, which means to join or unite. Originally, practicing yoga was to unite ones consciousness with the Divine Consciousness (essentially God) and gain a more clear understanding of the meaning of life. In a more modern sense, yoga is about connecting the body and mind through movement and breathing. The different postures and breathing patterns calm us down and allow for better control of our movements and emotions. Whatever definition rings true with you, yoga certainly has a great deal of benefits that can lead to better health and less stress.

Improved strength, balance, coordination and flexibility

Some of the main positives yoga is associated with is improved flexibility, balance and coordination. It can also lead to a significant increase in overall strength. Yoga sessions can incorporate anything from simple seated positions that encourage relaxation and recovery, through to highly advanced postures that demand a great deal from the body. This range of exercises and postures can challenge the body and mind in different ways, encouraging them to grow and adapt together.

Improved circulation

Similarly, the contractions of muscles, control of breath and varying intensity of yoga exercises can lead to an improvement in blood circulation. This allows for more efficient delivery of much needed nutrients to working muscles and other key areas of the body, encouraging them to work and recover more effectively. This can also lead to a significant decrease in blood pressure, encouraging better health and lower levels of stress.

Mental health boost

Improved circulation – among other factors – has also been linked with better mental health, as the brain has a more readily available source of energy (poor circulation and lack of movement can be significant contributors to the development of depression). The controlled breathing patterns used in yoga, as well as the focus needed to get into and hold certain postures can help to calm racing/erratic thoughts and slow down the heart rate, which in turn can help manage anxiety levels. Finally, many feel-good hormones are released when we exercise – yoga included. Couple this with the fact that yoga is often done in a group setting means that more endorphins are released, leading to more feelings of contentment and achievement.

Appetite control and better digestion.

Practicing yoga regularly has been shown to positively impact how mindful we are. This carries over from the exercise sessions into areas such as appetite and food intake control. Being more mindful of what we are putting into our body can reduce rates of overeating, particularly when feeling stressed or down. A recent study has also found that teenagers who regularly practice yoga were more likely to select fruit and vegetables over sugar filled foods. This is a great sign as overconsumption of added sugar has been linked to the development of health conditions such as type two diabetes and obesity. Also, the increase in circulation, decrease of stress and movements involved in yoga poses may all contribute to better digestion, potentially helping to alleviate digestive issues (although more research needs to be done in this area).

Takeaway message

The takeaway here is that practicing yoga regularly has been shown to benefit many areas of life. By disengaging from social media and the rat run of life, and instead reengaging with ourselves through movement, exercise and breath control can help to take away a bit of stress, encourage us to be more mindful of our actions and lead to overall improvements in our physical and mental health.

References

1. Unick JL, Dunsiger SI, Bock BC, Sherman SA, Braun TD, Hayes JF, et al. A randomized trial examining the effect of yoga on dietary lapses and lapse triggers following behavioral weight loss treatment. Obesity Science & Practice. 2023;9(5):484-92.
2. Watts AW, Rydell SA, Eisenberg ME, Laska MN, Neumark-Sztainer D. Yoga’s potential for promoting healthy eating and physical activity behaviors among young adults: a mixed-methods study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2018;15.