The Three Big Benefits of Yoga

Yoga has become a trendy fad all around the world. Everyone from famous movie stars to your next door neighbor is starting to practice yoga. In case you have never tried it and are curious, I would like to explain how yoga might be of benefit to you.

Before I get into the most important reasons for practicing yoga, it would be good to have a basic overview of yoga itself. Yoga was developed in India several thousand years ago and it is a system of physical, mental and spiritual development. It consists of physical postures, deep relaxation techniques and meditation exercises. These days the physical postures (called “asanas”) are the most widely practiced form of yoga and you can learn them in studios and clubs around the world.

Now if you are interested to know “what’s in it for me” then here is a brief list of some of the most important benefits that the practice of yoga can bring to you.

1. Yoga is a key to improved physical well being. Usually this is what most people want when they sign up for a yoga course, and yoga is indeed efficient in helping people on the physical level. The various yoga postures, when combined with a proper diet and other exercise, can help you to reach high level of health, fitness and vitality. The key to this is in the digestive system where yoga postures can help you to overcome acidity, constipation and indigestion, thus preventing the many illnesses that have their root in the digestive tract. Furthermore, when yoga postures are combined with deep relaxation and meditation they help to lower blood pressure, and this becomes especially important as you grow older and become more susceptible to heart disease.

2. Yoga will make you look better. A lot of people begin yoga in order to lose weight and look better. Can yoga be of help in this area? If you are healthy then you will look better! In fact that is the evolutionary, biological basis of beauty. Biologists tell us that living beings choose partners who appear to give them the best chance of spreading their genes successfully. We don’t think about this when we see a handsome man or beautiful woman, but a glowing skin and attractive appearance is the outer sign of health and vitality. So, the practice of yoga, with its previously mentioned health benefits will help you to look your best.

3. Yoga is a great way to manage stress

As our civilization gets more complex, it also becomes a more stressful place to live. The reason for this goes back to our primitive ancestors. When they were threatened by the dangers of the environment, their bodies started to pump blood and hormones started to work so that they would be ready to either fight with all their might or run as fast as they could. We have inherited the same biological system but this is often very troublesome for us. If you are fighting or running it doesn’t matter if you turn red or sweat profusely. This kind of “fight or flight” response is not so useful when the danger that confronts you is a hostile boss at work! If you practice yoga postures and supplement them with deep relaxation and meditation you can attain a state of inner mental balance and peace that will enable you to remain calm even in the face of extreme provocations and stress.

There’s a lot more that can be said about yoga, but the three aspects that I have described are probably enticing enough for you to at least inquire more and possibly to begin your own personal practice of yoga as soon as possible.

Tagged with: exercise • Health • health and wellness • self improvement • Yoga

Filed under: Yoga

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