How yoga can help you get healthy
Why you should consider yoga for physical health and overall wellbeing.
Yoga is an ancient practice that is said to have originated in Egypt and India. The practice of yoga helps one to align their mental and physical well being, resulting in mental clarity, flexibility and calmness overtime.
There are over 100 types of yoga, giving you a wide variety to choose from. Some types of yoga focus specifically on the body – emphasising flexibility and strength – whereas others focus on clearing the mind by entering a deep meditative state while simultaneously moving the body. Whatever your physical or mental goal, there’s certainly a yoga practice designed to help you reach it.
Here’s how yoga can help you achieve your health goals:
1. It can help you get more quality sleep
Sleep is undoubtedly an important part of living a balanced and healthy life. It helps your immune system regenerate and without it, your immune system could become compromised, leading to a myriad of health issues.
A lack of sleep also makes you sluggish and irritable, which is quite unpleasant. This is why doing yoga before bed can help you feel more revitalized and energised in the morning. Even 20 minutes before bed can make the world of a difference.
2. It can reduce anxiety and stress
It seems like stress and anxiety are an accepted part of modern-day life. However, they don’t have to be. Stress and anxiety can greatly affect one’s quality of life, making it difficult to think clearly, sleep well and live a full and meaningful life.
Let go of unnecessary baggage and overthinking by releasing negative energy and tension on your yoga mat. The body never forgets, so every negative emotion is stored in your muscles, making you stiff and creating knots in your back. This is precisely why stress and anxiety can lead to health complications and yoga is an excellent way to combat this.
3. It can improve body strength and flexibility
Moving your body regularly through the practice of yoga can help you build body strength and flexibility overtime. This will reduce aches and pains in the body, helping you feel rejuvenated and energetic.
Do you still need more convincing to finally join that yoga class you’ve been putting off?
4. It can improve heart health
Yoga improves blood circulation, resulting in better heart health. Having a healthy heart means having an overall healthy body, preventing cardiovascular diseases and leading to a longer life.
5. It increases self-awareness
Practicing yoga consistently can help you increase your self-awareness. Much like meditation, the practice of yoga requires you to ‘go within,’ strengthening the mind-body connection. This helps you to deal with negative situations and emotions more efficiently, improving your understanding of self.
