9 Surprising Health Benefits of Yoga

We all are constantly running. Students chasing grades, employees chasing deadlines, adults chasing bills and what-not.

This relentless pursuit makes us neglect ourselves which is detrimental to our health both mental and physical. In this chase, we often place our health on the back burner. We forget our bodies and all aspects of it, physiology, mind and soul. Our body, which is our real home, our true habitat.

Taking out time for yourself and creating space in your day to slow down is the need of the hour. To bring your attention to your ‘self’.

And what better way there is to support your health and lifestyle, than yoga?

Contrary to popular understanding, yoga is not just about a few poses or meditation.

The word yoga has its root in the Sanskrit word - Yuj, which means to join.

To indulge in yoga means uniting the mind, body and spirit through controlled poses, breathing exercises and meditation.

Yoga has a lot of health benefits both mental, physical and spiritual all of which are backed by science. The best thing about this? Everyone can do it at any time or place they find convenient at absolutely no cost.

Still skeptical about trying yoga? Here are 10 reasons that will convince you to spread out that yoga mat and strike a pose for a healthier you.

1. Good for Heart

The heart is the most integral organ of your body. But the modern-day lifestyle does nothing to aid its health.

Regularly practicing yoga balances blood pressure and lowers your pulse rate, making you calmer and reducing the risk of stroke.

Studies have also shown that yoga along with healthy diet practices leads to reduced cholesterol levels and improved circulation.

Thus, yoga is a boon for people at risk of heart diseases as it increases cardiovascular endurance.

2. Reduces Chronic Pain

It could be a sprained wrist due to sports injury or something serious like arthritis, millions of people globally suffer from chronic pain. When you suffer from pain day after day that refuses to go away, it can take a toll on your emotional and physical health.

About 25% of people with chronic pain will go on to develop a condition termed as chronic pain syndrome (CPS). That's when people have symptoms like depression and anxiety that go beyond physical pain alone, which interfere with their daily lives. It often starts with an injury or painful condition such as Arthritis and other joint problems, Back pain, Headaches, Muscle strains and sprains, Repetitive stress injuries, when the same movement over and over strains a particular body part, etc.

Research has shown that people who suffered from chronic pain saw a significant improvement in their condition by incorporating gentle yoga in their lifestyle.

By strengthening your joints and the muscles surrounding them while promoting deep breathing and relaxation, yoga naturally helps alleviate the pain and makes your muscles strong.

It’s highly important to practice yoga under professional guidance in this case.

3. Improves Posture

Needless to say, good posture makes us look more confident, taller and healthy. But it also minimizes risks of musculoskeletal disorders like Muscle / Tendon strain, Ligament Sprain, Tension Neck Syndrome, Trigger Finger/Thumb, Mechanical Back Syndrome, Degenerative Disc Disease, Ruptured/Herniated Disc and many more that are associated with a corporate lifestyle, working on laptops and computer systems all day.

Through regular practice of yoga, one learns to uphold themselves in a better manner. Not only this, it makes us aware of ourselves. You are more likely to catch yourself slumping or slouching and correct your posture. With time, it strengthens your core making it much easier to remain upright.

4. Aids Sleep

When was the last time you woke up feeling well-rested and refreshed?

Probably ages ago.

Our sleeping woes are a direct result of our unhealthy lifestyle. Bad eating habits, being physically inactive, tumultuous mental health due to stress, tension, etc all affect and disrupt our sleep quality.

And yes, there are better options than just popping some pills.

According to the Indian Journal Of Medical Research, Yoga has been shown to increase the secretion of Melatonin - sleep hormone that promotes good quality sleep and wakefulness.

People practicing regular yoga are reported to fall asleep faster, have better sleep quality and wake up feeling energized.

Thus, because of numerous benefits that yoga provides to both body and mind, it improves your sleeping pattern as well.

5. Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Yoga can work wonders for your mental health. Yoga strengthens your mind and body connection, thus providing you with endless benefits on the emotional front.

Yoga promotes concentration and focus which makes you centered and calm by distracting and relieving your mind of stressful situations.

Numerous studies have shown that it decreases the secretion of cortisol which is a stress hormone.

Breathing techniques and relaxing practices help you disengage from things triggering anxiety, making you feel centered and in control of the situation.

6. Improves Concentration and Attention

When we were students we couldn’t concentrate on the blackboard getting distracted by kids on the ground, and now that we are office goers we can’t concentrate in the boardroom getting distracted by our own thoughts.

Lack of concentration not only affects our efficiency but it also hampers our productivity.

Frequently practicing yoga makes us develop focusing as a habit and increases our mindfulness.

Doing Asanas requires a lot of patience and regular practice improves our concentration and attention span. In fact, yoga also helps in improving our memory by increased blood circulation to the brain, thus promoting focus and reducing stress.

7. Strengthens Body

As surprising as it may sound, doing rounds at the gym is not the only way of strengthening your body. And definitely not the easiest one!

With regular practice of physical poses of yoga, you can not only increase your muscle definition but also up your endurance, boost your immunity and increase your stamina.

Poses like downward dog, upward dog, and the plank, build upper body strength and make your core strong.

It aids your hand-eye coordination and increases flexibility and balance.

8. Betters Breathing

Most of us don’t pay attention to the way we breathe. Breathing is most necessary to stay alive yet we give no importance to it. Our breathing is also the link between our body and our mind and for both to function well, they need oxygen. Taking short and quick breaths makes our minds nervous and agitated.Are we breathing too rapidly? Taking shallow breaths?

Yoga practices like the pranayama focuses on our breathing and promotes deep and controlled breathing. This increases the level of oxygen in our blood and decreases stress and stabilizes blood pressure.

When you are practicing a yoga pose and it feels challenging, imagine sending your breath to the area in your body that feels stiff or tight. Does it help? You can apply this skill to the rest of your life, too. Whenever you find yourself in a challenging situation, a tough problem at work, an argument with a loved one — try to bring your focus on your breathing. You may be surprised by your ability to deal and respond to the situation.

9. Improves the Quality of Life

Yoga works by improving your mind, body and soul connection. Being comfortable in your own body and having good mental health boosts your self-confidence and response system. It not only results in good health for your body but also changes the way you look at life. You gain the ability to live your life with renewed energy and perspective. When you achieve optimum health, you become more aware of your surroundings and contribute to your community in a better way.

Thus needless to say Yoga can drastically improve your health, add years to your life and provide endless long term benefits. In simple terms, it not only improves your quality of life from the inside out, but it also makes you happier and content.

BRAHMA WELLNESS

Brahma wellness aims to bring workplace wellness to you by providing both onsite and offsite programs aimed at stress management and holistic wellness. Yoga, meditation, spiritual and mental wellness are key components of our wellness programs. We believe that optimum wellness can only be achieved by creating balance and harmony between our physical, mental and spiritual well-being.

Our numerous services range from providing customized workplace wellness programs tailored according to the company’s requirements, fitting seamlessly into their work regimes.

We also provide off-site wellness centers and holistic wellness retreats running under the care of wellness and healthcare experts dedicated to helping you reach your optimum alignment of the mind, body and soul alike.

Through Brahma Wellness, your mind, body and soul are all tended to in a comprehensive and integrated manner. Thus, enabling you to experience wellness on a deeper level that allows for a more optimistic, joyful and healthy way of living.

Contact us on hello@brahma-wellness.com to bring wellness to your life.