Benefits of Yoga

The Benefits of Yoga

Whether you’re trying yoga for the first time or a seasoned practitioner, there are many stages in which you can experience the benefits of yoga.

Physical

The body welcomes and requires active movement. Any form of stretching will help the body stay limber. However, the physical benefits of yoga, as reported by the millions of people who perform various types of asanas, are many. For example:

• Better flexibility of the spine and joints
• Increased flow of blood and oxygen
• Stronger balance and straighter posture
• Improved digestion
• Toned and strengthened muscles
• Reduction of toxins built up in the body
• Heightened immune system response

Many yogis claim that regular practice can also greatly reduce the symptoms of a number of ailments, such as allergies, arthritis, chronic fatigue, thyroid disorders and weight problems--especially when practicing a vigorous routine such as Bikram yoga or power yoga. A gentle practice can improve the health of people suffering back pain, and many pregnant women claim that doing yoga helps prepare for labor.

Once the yoga poses become more familiar, practitioners begin to experience the benefits of yoga more experientially.

Mental

Through a dedicated and disciplined approach to yoga, many claim to experience:

• Relief from stress
• Improved ability for concentration
• Greater capacity for joy, contentment and peace
• Deeper relaxation and sleep
• Expanded consciousness and awareness
• Increased desire to live and eat more healthfully

There isn’t a great deal of scientific research to reinforce these mental benefits of yoga. But, it stands to reason that all the positive factors researchers state general exercise provides would accompany a consistent yoga practice. And, it can’t be a coincidence that the deep breaths we’re advised to take in order to calm ourselves are similar to the breath foundation used to move into a yoga posture, also known as pranayama.

Spiritual

Although it is the hardest yoga benefit to evaluate, the very core of yoga is enhanced spirituality and the pursuit of a higher state of being. The practice of Kundalini yoga is rooted in awakening spiritual energy. The healing aspects of yoga therapy rely on connecting with the greater universal good for healing power. Even Nidra yoga, also known as “the sleep of the yogis,” encourages a yogi to explore the vast caverns of the mind in order to achieve peace and heightened awareness.

As with most things worth attaining, the spiritual benefits of yoga will not happen overnight. But your dedication to practice and respect for the gradual awakening of your body and mind will help you see the path more clearly.

Learn More about the Benefits of Yoga

If you can, take yoga classes from a certified yoga instructor, someone who will be a helpful guide to each level you’d like to attain.

You might also find these books helpful at various stages of your journey:

• The American Yoga Association Beginner’s Manual by Alice Christensen, is a step-by-step guide to safely and effectively begin a yoga practice, with a focus on the more physical elements of a routine.
• Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga, written by Hatha yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar, is one of the most important books on yoga available.
• Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, is considered to be one of the 100 best spiritual books of the 20th century.

Embrace yoga and reap whatever benefits you can. You will most definitely notice a difference in your physicality and emotional health with continued practice.