Health Benefits Associated With The Practice Of Yoga
Whether you have ever practiced yoga or not, you might not be aware of the many health benefits associated with it. There are many recreational activities and sports that can provide you with benefits to your health, but it might be hard to find any single one that can beat the number of benefits that are often associated with the poses of this ancient practice imported from India.
Nearly everyone can achieve some level of health benefit by participating in a regular practice of a variety of poses. The health benefits are often categorized as either physical or mental in nature, though one could say that some of these benefits fit both. Irrelevant of how it is labeled, the good news is that with a little time each week, you could start to see some of these benefits in your own life.
From the standpoint of flexibility, strength and balance, there is much to be gained. There are poses that are specifically designed to address each of these factors. Flexibility is improved by stretching your body in ways that you might not normally experience. A gentle twist is an example of a pose that stretches your body and improves your flexibility. It is especially useful for those areas of your body that tend to hold tightness, like your shoulders, back and hips. Improved flexibility can help preserve range of motion and prevent injury.
Many poses force you to support your body in ways that are different than anything you have tried before. For example, the plank pose has the bulk of your weight supported by your arms, as only your hands and toes are touching the mat, while the rest of your body is attempting to be straight and level as a plank of wood. This is good for strengthening your arms, your back, your abdominal core, as well as your legs. It might look easy, but if done correctly you will really feel the effects of the plank position.
As you age, one of the most important factors to staying healthy is balance. Without it, you are at risk for a fall that can be a serious health risk. Improving your strength and flexibility will naturally aid you in balance. Couple that with specific balance poses, like the tree pose, where you balance on one leg, and you will begin to see an improvement in your body’s balance.
Another benefit associated with improved strength and flexibility is that it can help prevent back pain, or reduce it if you already experience this most common pain complaint. As you gain flexibility and strength, you gain awareness of your body positioning and alignment. This awareness helps you with how you carry your body, how you sit, and how you stand, often leading to a reduction in your back pain. If you are lucky enough to not have back pain already, this can help you prevent its onset.
There are a multitude of other potential physical benefits to a regular practice of your poses. Some that are mentioned in studies include overall fitness, improved muscle tone, maintaining a healthy weight, or possibly losing weight. By practicing special breathing exercises, called Pranayama, you learn to focus on your breath, and filling and emptying your lungs to the point that you have an increased awareness of your body’s use of breath. There are some who have achieved an improvement in their asthma symptoms by using these techniques.
Probably the biggest mental health benefit of your practice can be stress relief and management. While considered part of your mental health, managing your stress levels can also have a dramatic impact on your physical well-being. There is a strong relationship between stress and physical ailments. Through your practice you gain a calmness of your mind because of the concentration required to complete the poses. It is well known that physical activity can help reduce stress, but this level of concentration magnifies that benefit by pushing your stressful thoughts out of your mind as you focus on your poses.
Before starting any new exercise regimen, it is important to make sure you are healthy enough for the activity. If you have any doubts, see your physician before you start. With all the possible health benefits, there is a very strong likelihood that you can achieve some level of improvement from practicing yoga, no matter what kind of condition you are in today.
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