Ok, it's no big secret - I'm a huge fan of yoga. Because it's had so many positive benefits on my life, I love to share it with others - family, friends, associates - and especially beginning yoga students.
I've already written about two of the biggest benefits of yoga for me personally - yoga for back pain and yoga for weight loss.
These two benefits alone are enough to keep me returning to my yoga mat forever. Another big health benefit for me from yoga - stress relief.
So, what are yoga's many other health benefits?
The list of health and wellness benefits of yoga continues to grow. Many studies are being done to validate yoga's reported healing power.
Just recently I read about a study that demonstrated improved balance and stability in women over 65 after just nine weeks of basic yoga practice. Some of the unexpected benefits identified during this study by Temple University included greater self-confidence and improved mood.
The list of yoga's health benefits is long because it helps all aspects of yourself - your body, your mind, and your emotions.
Here's just a partial list of the physical, mental, and emotional benefits reported by those who practice yoga:
Health Benefits of Yoga
- Increased strength, flexibility, and balance
- Decreased pain
- Better Posture
- Increased circulation and blood flow
- Improved concentration, focus, and memory
- More energy and endurance
- Diminished anxiety and depression
- Elevated mood and sense of well-being
- Sustained weight loss
- Enhanced metabolism
- Stronger immune system
- Improved sleep
- Increased range-of-motion
- Better breathing
- Relief from stress and its symptoms
- Lower blood pressure
- Better hand-eye coordination
- Greater self-acceptance
- Improved mood
- Better hormone management
- Improved body awareness
- Improved digestion and elimination
Yoga can also offer a wide range of symptom relief associated with many conditions and diseases such as:
- Anxiety
- Asthma
- Arthritis
- Back pain
- Cancer
- Depression
- Diabetes (Type 2)
- Heart Disease
- Menopause
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Osteoporosis
Impressive, huh? Have I convinced you to give yoga a try? You don't have to do much yoga to begin realizing these benefits. Even a few minutes a day of simple stretching and focused breathing can help you feel noticeably better. And heck, you don't even have to like it. Just think of it as something you have to do to feel better, like taking your vitamins!
Links:
Yoga Health Benefits - Web Md
Is Yoga All the Exercise You Need? - Rodale
Tap into the Many Healthy Benefits of Yoga - Mayo Clinic
You might also like...
Stay Young with Yoga - In addition to all yoga's health benefits, it can help to keep you young
Breathe Away Stress - Learn to breathe your stress away with these effective exercises
The Benefits of Private Yoga Instruction - Here are 7 great reasons to consider private yoga instruction
If you live in Phoenix or Scottsdale and need assistance getting started practicing yoga, I can help. Learn more about my yoga services.
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