Benefits of Yoga for Physical and Mental Health: Proven Results
Benefits of Yoga for Physical and Mental Health
Many of us have practiced some form of yoga, and we are all familiar with its relaxing and healing effects.
Even if you are dealing with an illness, problem, diagnosis or stressful situation, yoga can help you relax and reduce the stress of everyday life.
Today, yoga is one of the most respected and widely accepted exercises to exercise the physical and mental health of young people.
In this blog post, learn more about the connection between psychology and yoga, including the benefits of yoga for your physical and mental health.
The benefits of yoga are
Enhanced adaptability
Higher levels of productivity
More energy, helping you burn more calories
Improved sleep
Helps with weight loss
Improves lung function
Health Benefits of Yoga
- Improves flexibility and balance
Yoga involves a lot of stretching, so it’s no surprise that it can help you become more flexible at a younger age. It also has the added benefit of improving your balance.
In addition to helping you maintain your balance when participating in sports such as jogging and skiing, balance is crucial to avoiding falls and maintaining independence as you age.
- Helps lung capacity and breathing
An 8-week trial involving 70 minutes of yoga per week showed significant improvements in all aspects of respiratory function in 28 middle-aged adults.
Adults with asthma who practiced yoga breathing techniques saw an improvement in their lung function.
- affects strength and endurance
Regular yoga practice has been shown to help young men and women increase their cardiorespiratory endurance and muscular strength.
In a study of 24 women aged 18-25 who practiced yoga for one hour three times a week for six weeks, they showed significant increases in upper body and abdominal muscle endurance.
In another study, participants were asked to do bhajana (a series of twelve yoga poses) six times a week for 24 weeks, in equal numbers of men and women.
By the end of the trial, participants showed significant increases in muscle strength and body mass index.
The percentage reduction in body fat for the female participants was also significant.
- Stress reduction
Due to the lowered cortisol levels (an essential stress hormone), yoga helps to relieve tension and calm the mind and body.
As a bonus, it helps improve one’s mental health and overall quality of life. When it comes to managing stress, there is nothing better than yoga.
- Relieves Anxiety
Many people use yoga to deal with their anxiety. It can be helpful for people suffering from Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Yoga can help people manage their worries.
When you practice yoga, you learn to fully engage in the present moment and cultivate inner peace, both of which help relieve stress.
- Fight depression
In addition to having similar effects to antidepressants, yoga helps reduce depressive symptoms and expressions. Yoga can reduce the stress hormone cortisol.
People who struggle with alcohol or drug abuse can benefit from yoga. Take Sudarshan Kriya, for example. This is an advanced yoga pose that allows you to breathe in time with the music.
With or without proper medication, yoga helps lower ACTH levels (the hormone responsible for releasing cortisol) and yoga helps fight depression.