|
Health benefits of yoga include flexible body, complete workout, detoxification, immunity, muscle tone up and others. Yoga is a proven science, which traces its origin to thousands of years back and comprises of theories and observations, which have been proven right by modern science. Research work is being done to analyze the health benefits of yoga postures and Pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation.
Health benefits of yoga impart awareness of any impending health disorder well in advance, which offers them enough time for treatment. Yoga has a detoxifying effect, which flushes out toxins from your body, thereby bringing relief to various disorders like asthma among others. The National Institutes of Health, America has funded the study of yoga for treating insomnia and other problems.
Benefits: The most alluring health benefits of yoga are as follows:
- Increases Flexibility: There are specific yoga postures that positively affect the various joints and stress points of the body. Yoga enhances lubrication of the joints, ligaments and tendons, making them flexible and functional.
- Complete Workout: Possibly, yoga is the only form of activity which ensures the workout of internal organs and vital glands such as the prostrate of the body in a meticulous manner, which cannot be stimulated externally by any other means. Yoga ensures holistic benefit to all parts of the body unlike localized effect ensured by other exercises.
- Detoxification: Yoga ensures gentle stretching of muscles and joints apart form the comprehensive work out of various internal organs, which in turn improves the optimum blood supply. A healthy blood flow is essential in flushing out the toxins and to provide nourishment to every cell in the body for a zestful life. Yoga can slacken the pace of ageing and ensure vitality.
- Yoga Enhances Immunity: Yoga helps you to improve the immunity of the body by stimulating the internal organs. It is therapeutically useful in ensuring a healthy body and mind. Yoga is a popular rejuvenation and relaxing technique among health conscious people. It has many benefits such as relieving back pain and easing stress, apart from imparting an overall feeling of goodness.
- Soothes Mind and Body: Yoga considers mind and body as a singe entity and believes that body has a capacity to heal itself in the right environment. Yoga stipulates correct body postures, alignment, breathing techniques and movement patterns, which would help you to relax even under stress. Yoga practitioners always enjoy stability and emotional bliss even during emotional turmoil and stressful conditions. The American Institute of Stress has accepted yoga as a stress bursting practice.
- Physiological Benefits of Yoga: Yoga decreases anxiety and brings down high pulse rate and blood pressure. It is understood that during various levels of meditation, alpha, theta, delta, and beta waves increase. Yoga can bring relief to patients suffering from respiratory tract infections and breathing difficulties. It optimizes gastrointestinal function and excretory functions. Yoga improves sleep, memory and the depth of perception apart from enhancing energy levels and dexterity skills.
- Easy to Practice: Yoga is simple and ideal for every age group as it involves slow and static movements. It has a minimal risk of muscle injury and is low calorie consumption activity where the main thrust area includes breathing techniques.
- Tones up the Muscles: Yoga helps to shed extra fat and flab and to tone up the muscles, improving the general appearance.
Things to Remember
Yoga must be learnt under the guidance of an expert instructor. Though yoga can be practiced by everyone irrespective of age or sex, make sure to take your physician’s opinion if you are suffering from heart ailments or any acute or chronic medical conditions that demand caution.
- Do not practice yoga after consuming hard drinks or mind altering drugs.
- Doing yoga in direct sunlight is not recommended. Select comfortable and shady outdoors or indoors.
- Try to concentrate on each and every posture of yours and should not be distracted by others in the room or outside.
- Proceed slowly and steadily by following the instructions precisely.
- Never over strain and make sure to take a brief break between each practice session. If you are feeling uncomfortable stop immediately.
This article was contributed by Seema Adnani
Back to Health Benefits of Food
References: National Institutes of Health and American Institute of Stress
|
