(Newswire.net — April 24, 2017) — It has long been questioned by scientists as to why yoga has so many benefits for its practitioners. This is because, over the last few years, there have been definitive answers stating the many beneficial effects on the body, mind and soul.
Therefore, this has led to a big increase in those starting to practice yoga with the help of YouTube channels, websites and magazines; all geared to giving you the best postures for your skill level. Overall, there are many areas of your body and mind that yoga can improve.
Flexibility
One of the biggest improvements people talk about when it comes to yoga is flexibility. At the start, you will probably be incredibly stiff and may find some of the poses difficult to master. However, when you start to do more, you will notice a definite stretching and loosening of the muscles and joints. This loosening can help with pain due to misaligned joints or muscle spasms. It can also help with problems related to poor posture.
Muscle Strength
Yoga does more than just soften muscles as it also builds, tones and strengthens them as well. Because yoga is a gentle exercise that can be tailored to people’s abilities, it is often a favorite with the elderly. Additionally, it can also give you a good balance between strength and flexibility which you wouldn’t usually get from a regime focused solely on weights.
Posture
As you get older, chronic lower back pain can become a common problem. It can be very debilitating and, therefore, lower your quality of life. The gentle exercises that are used to target the spine and muscles in that area can help to relieve the pain and promote healing, as well as strengthen the muscles along the spine to help regain and maintain a correct posture. This in itself will help to relieve stress on your joints and alleviate pain.
Fitness
Yoga is not usually associated with cardiovascular fitness. However, when you start to practice and master the more advanced positions, poses and participate in longer sessions, you will find that your heart rate will increase. Additionally, it will also demand regular and concentrated breathing and in turn, improve your fitness.
These benefits will not only reduce your risk of heart attack, but it has also been found to relieve depression.
Bone Strength
There is a lot of research that suggests weight-bearing exercise is good for strengthening bones and preventing osteoporosis. Therefore, many elderly people are now attending yoga classes for this reason. This is because many of the postures you are required to hold lifts your own body weight; increasing bone density and preventing degeneration. Because you are not lifting more than your own weight, it also prevents damage to the joints and cartilage.
There are a multitude of reasons why yoga is seen as an enormously beneficial exercise, and anyone – regardless of health or experience – can start to see improvements in their body. Plus, when you add in the effects yoga can have on your mental health, you will soon understand why yoga is popular worldwide.