Yoga is a pretty universal
activity. It can be a great exercise, but it can also be a way of life. For all
of you who have never tried it, it’s not too late to start. It’s great for all
ages, ranging from small children, to mature adults. Also it can be beneficial
for all body types and skill sets.
No matter why you enjoy
yoga, there are plenty of benefits from it as well! I put together a list of 10
benefits of yoga that may make you want to break out that yoga mat you stuffed
away in the closet.
1.
Reduces Stress and Reduces Anxiety
It doesn’t matter if you
suffer from chronic stress and anxiety or experience it once in a while when
your workload gets heavy; it’s tough! Yoga has been found to help reduce or
even relieve stress and anxiety. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid
to break out the yoga mat! Sometimes a 20-minute yoga break is exactly what you
need. If your case is a little more serious, studies show that doing yoga on a
regular basis can increase serotonin
levels. Even though this may not be a total solution to your anxiety and
stress, it can be incredibly helpful.
2.
Great way to get Toned
Yoga is more than just
stretching! It’s balance, strength, and flexibility all combined. If you
practice yoga on a regular basis, chances are you will see a big improvement! Also,
make sure to switch up your routines every so often. That’s a great way to keep
things interesting, your muscles challenged, and will prevent you from
plateauing. In addition, for those of you who have weak joints, yoga is a great
way to stay in shape without creating further damage. It’s a low impact
activity, but with myriad benefits.
3.
Gives You Better Balance
Yoga is a great way to
become a more balanced person. Why is this important? It trains your body to
understand its situational awareness, or proprioception. Though this may seem
like a minor benefit, people with poor proprioception are linked to having more
knee/back pain due to a constant imbalance.
4.
Boosts Energy
Just like any regular
excising, yoga can help boost energy. Notice you’re feeling lethargic by the
end of the day? If you pick up 20-30 minutes of yoga a day, you can start
feeling a boost of energy. Also, it helps you sleep deeper, so you’ll be waking
up less exhausted.
5.
Great for Cross-Training
No matter what your work
out of choice is, stretching is very important! It can help prevent injuries,
and not to mention, increase flexibility. Also, stretching after a workout can
help reduce muscle fatigue and speed up muscle recovery. Next time you complete
your exercise, try a 10-minute, full body yoga routine to get the most out of
your training.
6.
You Can Do it Alone, or With Friends
The great thing about yoga
is that you can do it anywhere and with anyone…even all by yourself. Take a class with your
friends, or just enjoy some alone time in your living room, it’s all up to you!
If you enjoy the solitude of nature, bring your mat outside! Maybe you’re more
of a social butterfly, it is a great way to relax with your friends and even
meet new people.
7.
Relieves Muscle Tension
If you get the occasional
knot from sleeping on a new pillow, or suffer from frequent muscle tightness
and tension, it can be incredibly painful! Just about anything can cause muscle
tension. Stress, over extending cold muscles, or even getting sick, but you
don’t have to just stick it out. While massaging knots is an age-old trick, yoga
can be incredibly helpful too. A combination of massaging, hot shower or bath,
and yoga can be a great natural remedy to work out all those tight spots
without having to take medication.
8.
Improves Flexibility
In a nutshell, most of the
positions in yoga have to deal with stretching some sort of muscle. But unlike
traditional stretching, yoga involves balance and strength, which will not only
improve your flexibility, but tone your muscles as well (like I stated
earlier). While you are practicing, breathe deep throughout all the positions
to maximize the stretch. That will also give you a more relaxing experience as
well.
9.
Helps you Focus
Feel yourself getting side
tracked a lot, or procrastinating on a big project? Yeah, we’ve all been there!
Instead of scrolling through your Facebook newsfeed for the one hundredth time,
roll out your yoga mat! I like to give myself 30 minutes (some of you may need
more or less time) to completely clear my head of everything, and focus only on
how my body feels while going through the yoga positions. When you’ve finished,
you may find yourself more motivated and ready to get back to work.
10. It’s Fun!
Yoga is fun! Take a class
and enjoy yourself, or simply follow along with YouTube videos in your bedroom.
It doesn’t matter what your body type is, what skill level you’re at, or what
gender you are, the only thing that matters is what you get out of it.
Visit the links below to read the the other parts of our "Yoga For All" blog series
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