Yoga is a practice that has been around for centuries, and it has been proven to have many benefits. According to the National Institutes of Health, scientific evidence shows that yoga supports stress management, mental health, mindfulness, healthy eating, weight loss and quality sleep. Practicing yoga regularly increases proprioception (the ability to sense what the body is doing and where it is in space) and improves balance. People with poor posture or dysfunctional movement patterns often have poor proprioception, which has been linked to knee problems and back pain.
Better balance could mean fewer falls. For older people, this translates into greater independence and a delay in entering a nursing home or never entering one. For the rest of us, poses such as the tree pose can make us feel less wobbly on and off the mat. In addition to physical benefits, yoga also offers mental benefits.
Rooted in the spiritual practices of India, yoga is less about standing up and much more about developing mental and physical strength and consolidating healthy habits for life. Here are 14 science-backed reasons to practice more yoga: 1.Stress Relief - Yoga is known for its stress-relieving benefits. It helps to reduce cortisol levels in the body, which can lead to improved moods and better overall health.
2.Mental Health
- Yoga can help improve mental health by reducing anxiety and depression.It can also help with focus and concentration, as well as improving self-esteem.
3.Mindfulness
- Practicing yoga regularly can help you become more mindful of your thoughts and feelings, allowing you to better manage them.4.Healthy Eating
- Yoga can help you make healthier food choices by teaching you how to listen to your body's hunger cues and cravings.5.Weight Loss
- Experts say the stress-relieving benefits of a regular yoga practice can help with weight management.6.Quality Sleep - Yoga can help improve sleep quality by calming the mind and body before bedtime.
7.Proprioception
- Practicing yoga regularly increases proprioception (the ability to sense what the body is doing and where it is in space).8.Balance
- Improved balance can mean fewer falls for both older people and those with poor posture or dysfunctional movement patterns.9.Hot Yoga
- Hot yoga became popular in the 1970s with a specific style called Bikram yoga, and heat is now used to improve a variety of yoga styles.10.Aerobic Benefits - The amount of aerobic benefits a person could get from yoga depends largely on the style and pace of the type of yoga you practice.
11.Energizing Sequence
- This energizing yoga sequence was designed by the Sweat app instructor, Phyllicia Bonanno, for those who are just starting to practice yoga or for those looking to strengthen their basic knowledge.12.Hatha Yoga
- Hatha Yoga (pronounced hah-ta, not -tha) encompasses several types of yoga, including ashtanga, vinyasa, and power yoga.13.CorePower Yoga
- CorePower Yoga offers yoga classes that offer high-intensity training as well as a retreat for the mind.14.Instructional DVDs - You can purchase instructional DVDs to start a yoga practice at home and find several resources on the benefits of yoga on the center's website.
