The Best Benefits of Yoga- Overview
Yoga leads to a more sedentary lifestyle
Yoga emphasizes a more relaxed posture and a less physical approach to life. This could lead to a more sedentary lifestyle since you are focusing on the body and not what you are doing in your day-to-day life. You may find yourself watching TV with your yoga mat at home instead of exercising or exercising at home instead of going out.
Some people do find this transition difficult, however I believe that this should be embraced (within moderation). Your body needs to rest and relax, so a more sedentary lifestyle can actually be beneficial to our health.
Yoga is a way of learning how to deal with stress
Some people may find yoga rather relaxing when they first start practicing. This is because yoga is designed to help you relax (physically and mentally) but it takes time for you to develop the needed skills. You will know that you are stressed or have anxiety because your breathing becomes shallow or irregular. Yoga teaches you how your body reacts when stressed and guides your practice accordingly.
The long hours spent at the gym just aren't going to happen when you practice yoga
It's no secret that the average American spends over 6 hours sitting down at their desk each day. We are also told to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, but that doesn't take into account the time we spend stuck in traffic or on public transportation. Practicing yoga at home can help you get your exercise done in less time and make it more convenient. For example, I have been practicing yoga for over a year now and I find that I only workout for around 30 minutes a day instead of spending the better part of an hour making my way to the gym, doing my workout and then making my way back.
Yoga is an excellent cross-training activity if you want to promote overall fitness
Cross-training is important for overall health since you are working different muscle groups than usual and continuously challenging your body. Yoga is a great way to work different muscle groups and add to your overall fitness. For example, I do yoga in the mornings but in the afternoons I enjoy biking, swimming or playing volleyball. If you are looking for a way to cross-train, yoga is an excellent option.
Yoga focuses on breathing techniques
There are many breathing techniques (some of which use pranayama) that can help you relax and may be useful when dealing with stress and anxiety. This is not to say that other forms of exercises don't focus on breathing techniques, but yoga seems better suited towards relaxing your body.
Yoga can help you sleep well
Sleep is very important for your health and overall well-being. Yoga is an excellent way to aid in sleep as it de-stresses the body and allows you to relax without the use of medication. It also makes you sweat which could play a role in improved sleep.
Yoga will make you feel more grounded
When I first began practicing yoga it seemed like my mind was not quite as busy, I was able to relax better and connect better with myself.
Most yoga postures are designed to strengthen and stretch particular muscle groups. For example, the headstand or shoulder stand are both extremely strong poses that help us improve our balance and posture.
Yoga promotes a positive self image
Because yoga is practiced in front of others, you will be more conscious of your body and personal space. This could help you improve your own self image (your body image). Furthermore, the poses that are involved with yoga tend to promote a positive self image because they are based on acceptance and balance. Some people may feel better about their bodies just by doing yoga because they gain a better understanding of their body and how it works.
Yoga encourages healthy eating habits
Since yoga encompasses all elements of a healthy lifestyle including meditation, diet etc., it should come as no surprise that it promotes healthy eating habits. It's up to you to decide whether you want to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, but whatever diet you choose, yoga could help.
Yoga helps with weight loss and maintenance
Many people find it difficult to lose weight or stay in shape because they lack the motivation. Yoga is an excellent way to achieve that motivation so that you can get into shape. I will say however that yoga alone will not miraculously transform your body. It is important that you find a workout routine that suits your needs, be consistent with it and eat healthy meals and snacks between meals.
How does yoga help you?
There are many ways that yoga helps you, so I leave it up to you to decide which of the benefits listed in this blog post apply to you and your personal needs.
This is not a comprehensive list of all the benefits that yoga can provide. And while this could be a very long list of yoga benefits, the bottom line is that I believe you should practice what works for you. Don't be afraid to bend your body into uncomfortable poses or accept that there are days when your body doesn't feel quite right. Yoga will help improve your health and well-being whether it's at home or at the gym, there are no limits on how far it can take you.
Are you getting the full yoga benefits?
I know that many of you are very hesitant to try yoga because you don't know if it will be beneficial to your health. Whenever I tell someone that I do yoga, they usually give me a look of skepticism. This is because they cannot recognize any benefits, have no idea what the poses feel like or how they will help them. As a result, they decide to continue in their former exercise routine and not take any chances. However, if you are truly interested in improving your health and feeling better about yourself then try yoga!
I'm sure you are wondering about getting started with this workout routine so let me break down a few things for you. First, the easiest way to start is to visit a local yoga class. Next, you could check with your school and see what kind of classes are offered there. Third, you can sign up for one of the yoga webcams on this blog site. I cannot stress enough how important it is that you try it out for yourself and see how it fits into your routine. Also, let me know if you have any questions in the comments section below!
