Benefits of Yoga

In our fast-paced society, it can be easy to get caught up in running around and forgetting to de-stress. Self-care, including reducing our stress levels, is an integral part of the recovery process. Thankfully, there are some easy ways to slow down and reduce every day stress, including yoga. With several benefits in addition to stress reduction, yoga becomes an easy choice when looking for new ways to decompress. Here, we look at 3 of the additional benefits of yoga.

Increased Strength

First of all, yoga increases your strength. By holding your body in proper form, you gain strength in your upper and lower body, as well as your core. You can choose more demanding styles of yoga, such as Ashtanga or Iyangar to build up more strength, but all forms will contribute to overall strength and endurance.

Flexibility

Yoga works by stretching the muscles, allowing for optimal blood flow and range of movement which contributes to overall health and well-being. Bikram yoga is a type of yoga performed in a heated environment and loosens your muscles, allowing them to stretch. Even if Bikram isn’t for you, you can get the benefits of increased flexibility through most, if not all, forms of yoga.

Increased Mindfulness and Meditation

Through focused concentration on your form and breathing, yoga allows you to connect both your mind and body. To properly carry out the poses, you must be focused on the present and be aware of your body as you strive to bring all systems into alignment. If you’re interested in this benefit, you might want to try Kundalini yoga, as it is designed to incorporate meditation into the exercise routine.

New to Yoga?

If you’re new to yoga, or looking to advance your skills, there are several websites you can check out that list specific poses for different needs, safety tips and more. A couple of great sites to get you started are www.yogajournal.com and www.yoga.com. Most cities have yoga studios where you can sign up for classes, and yoga is an increasingly popular class offered at many gyms. A simple Internet search will likely yield several results for options in your area.

Try working yoga into your weekly routine and see how it helps you de-stress, feel better and boost your well-being!