Yoga has now gone global and has gained immense popularity in recent times, and it’s not without a reason. Yoga is seen as an excellent way to improve your health, mental state, as well as fitness. Here’s more on how Yoga benefits you physically as well as mentally.
Benefits of Yoga
There is no doubt that yoga has swept the world off its feet, because of their several healthy benefits, including physical and psychological well being.
However there are many who still don’t seem to be aware of the benefits of practicing yoga, and still don’t use it on a regular basis.
If you too are one of them, then here are top reasons why you must practice yoga.
Breathe Right and Stay Relaxed
In today’s times with such high level of stress it is imperative to also de-stress and relax; yoga helps to achieve a physically fit body and a peacefully sound mind.
Yoga and breathing exercises help in deep breathing and relaxation. It helps in reducing mental and physical stress and helps to stay relaxed.
Yoga helps you breathe right and that alone can help you get rid of many diseases.
Correct breathing has several benefits; shallow breathing however prevents air from reaching the lungs properly. Yoga has several techniques and breathing techniques that will help you to respire correctly.
It works as an emotional and physical stress booster, which is especially helpful for women.
Get Over Breakups, Layoffs and Death
Yoga can help people deal with breakups, divorce, job loss and death. Certain yoga forms, such as Ashtanga, was originally designed to get rid of excess nervous energy.
In Ashtanga yoga, each movement is designed to specifically target a certain aspect of getting over emotional pain. For example:
- A forward fold helps people deal with their past because the position protects the heart.
- A back bend can help yogis move forward by opening up the heart and energizing the body, Kirchner said.
- A twist represents forgiveness.
Yoga Increases Elasticity and Reduces Pain
Yoga makes your body more elastic as various yoga poses require you to stretch your body, which increases the muscle movement and adds to flexibility.
Since yoga increases flexibility and helps tone and regularize the muscles, it helps relieve pain greatly. For those who suffer from back trouble, yoga is a great help to get relief.
Being seated for long hours every day can cause back pain and spinal disorders. Yoga can help you deal with back pain and spinal disorders as well.
Yoga helps provide relief from pain and aches in the body. Regular practice of yoga asana’s have helped people deal with chronic pain in their body.
Initially you may not be able to bend and touch your toes with your hands, but if you exercise regularly, you will notice a steady improvement in flexibility, helping you to practice more difficult asanas comfortably.
Yoga for Full Body Workout
Yoga helps improve flexibility of body, but it is also capable of giving you a complete full body workout.
Yoga also gives overall strength to your body. It increases the body’s capacity to support itself. A regular practice of various yoga “asanas” strengthens several body parts, which in turn strengthens the entire body.
The more you practice yoga, the more lean muscles you develop which in turn helps in shedding weight.
Kundalini Yoga is a great science to help with full body fitness and health.
Yoga for Better Sleep
If you are unable to sleep well at night, try yoga; it can help with Insomnia.
Insomnia can really play havoc with the quality of your life. There are many who spend more time on the bed, hoping to get some sleep, but it only makes you more tired. It can be absolutely infuriating – which doesn’t make it any easier.
Studies have shown that yoga can help you get better sleep at night.
There are some basic yoga exercises which will help you if insomnia is threatening to ruin your life. These exercises will allow you to clear your mind, keep it relaxed, and its also good for clearing tension from your muscles when you really need to feel relaxed.
If insomnia has been getting you down, then a three-times a week dose of Ashtanga, a vigorous form of yoga, can be the answer. It is best to do the exercise a few hours before going to sleep, as vigorous exercise just prior to bedding down is a really bad idea.
There’s another useful yoga pose that you can try when lying down on the bed, you can practise the unfortunately-named “corpse pose”.
To do this, you lie on your back and focus on each part of your body starting with your feet – indeed, at the tips of your toes. Focus on releasing tension and softening each body part, and then spend a few minutes breathing naturally, in and out. Your conscious mind may try to cut in during this process. It is simply important that you do not let it engage you. After a few minutes of breathing naturally, you should find yourself drifting off.
Yoga Boosts Productivity
Yoga calms the mind and sooths the senses. It helps you to focus better, prohibits the mind from rambling away easily, and builds better concentration levels.
Yoga can boost productivity and focus, and help you achieve more with less effort. Yoga relaxes your body and mind and helps you de-stress, it helps you offload your daily worries and helps you maintain a balance in your mind and body.
- You can learn to be ‘at ease’ with your Yoga practice, and you can translate the same to your workplace, which will help you achieve more without burning out.
- Yoga practice helps you get rid of any rigid habits that you may have, you will learn to let go of expectations but you will also no longer be limited by the limitations you place on yourself.
“Don’t think of balance as static or rigid. Think of trees and swaying in the breeze. If we can sway in breeze a little more in our lives we can get more done with less effort.”
Become a Better Person
Shuddhi (meaning detoxification) is the act of purification (of the mind and the body). And Yoga is a great form of exercise to help you purify your body and mind.
Here are the various types of Purifications (Shuddhis), and how it is achieved, that will help you become a better person.
- Body gets purified by WATER & EXERCISE: Drink plenty of water every day, and try to exercise everyday for around 20 -30 minutes (Yoga, Running, Swimming, Dancing, or just walking)
- Breath gets purified by PRAANAAYAM: Spare at least a few minutes in a day where you can focus on your breathing.
- Mind gets purified by MEDITATION: You can do this while breathing. Just focus your attention on your breath, consciously make the breathing deeper. You may start with just 5 minutes in a day.
- Intellect gets purified by KNOWLEDGE: Keep learning, play mental games, renew old passions, hone your existing skills to stay mentally fit.
- Memory gets purified by MANAN & CHINTAN: Thinking/Contemplating/Reflecting transforms experiences into genuine learning. It helps you develop higher-level thinking.
- Ego gets purified by SEVA(SERVICE): Offering service to others without any thought of reward or self-gratification helps you become a better person.
- Self gets purified by SILENCE (MAUN): Silence helps your mind become free of clutter, helps you to think clearly and allows you to enjoy life better.
- Food gets purified by POSITIVE THOUGHTS WHILE COOKING & EATING. You should be ‘aware’ and filled with good thoughts while cooking and eating (no watching television while eating).
- Wealth gets purified by GIVING/DONATING: Acts of generosity provides feelings of calmness, peace, satisfaction and helps ease tension and stress.
- Bhava (Feelings/Emotions) gets purified by LOVE: When you spread love, not only you become a better person, you also are loved by others. The overall result is a better environment where things are in harmony.
Countries Train Soldiers in Yoga
Soldiers carry great responsibility and often find themselves in extremely stressful situations; Yoga can help them process traumatic experiences.
Yoga for India’s Armed and Paramilitary Forces
Hatha Yoga teachers from Isha Foundation (founded by Sadhguru) conducted Yoga sessions, designed by Sadhguru especially for people at high altitude, at Leh and Siachen Army bases.
“It is paramount to equip them with Yogic tools of transformation for health, inner balance and wellbeing on all levels,” said Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the foundation.
“Under Sadhguru’s guidance, this year, the foundation teachers and volunteers are in the process of imparting scientifically designed Yoga modules to the country’s armed and paramilitary forces” the PRO said.
Netherlands train their soldiers in Yoga
Netherlands announced they will train their soldiers in yoga to effectively handle stressful situations and process traumatic experiences. Yoga teachers will train some Netherlands armed forces personnel to be yoga instructors with the goal that they will ultimately train and provide opportunity to every army-air force-navy soldier to practice yoga.
These sessions will be voluntary and no soldier will be forced to take up yoga. However, the officials firmly believe that the practice of Yoga will be very useful.
Yoga is already used in by the British and US armed forces.
So, Yoga helps you to focus not just on the core movements of your body, it also helps you mental well being. With so many benefits of yoga, it does make sense to give it a try.
Related: Know more about yoga exercises, equipment, accessories, and more.
Unesco Includes Yoga in Intangible Cultural Heritage List
Unesco has included Yoga in its ‘intangible’ cultural heritage list, calls it ‘human treasure’.
The declaration is seen as a diplomatic triumph for India, and is expected to put spotlight on the numerous institutions and communities in India that teach yoga.
Unesco is the only UN body mandated to capture the intangible aspects of culture.
How to Make the Most Out of Yoga
There are three important things you must have before you can take the most benefit from this ancient art.
- An Open Mind
Yoga is a different journey for every person, meaning that the experience will be different for everyone. There are many myths and preconceptions about yoga, so approach yoga with an open mind and you will be astounded by the possibilities. No matter what your current fitness level, yoga will improve it. - A Good Teacher
Find out more about the various styles of yoga and choose a style that you feel comfortable about; remember, you can always change styles later, if you choose. If walking into a yoga class sounds a little daunting to you, you could always start learning yoga at home. YouTube and the internet are excellent resources for yoga. So, start learning the basics, and move on from there. - A Mat and Some Space
A good yoga mat is very important. Like any sport, having the right equipment can make things much easier. Besides mats, yoga also makes use of things like stability balls, resistance bands and blocks. If you’re on a budget, things like blocks can be replaced with a book or two, or a rolled up towel. It doesn’t take much money to get started. You may also check with your yoga studio if they sell secondhand equipment, which could be easier on the wallet.
A special place to practice your yoga is also very important. If you’re doing yoga at home, pick the nicest room in the house, away from distractions and make sure it’s a place where you feel comfortable. If you have a group of friends that you want to practice with, consider meeting one morning at the park, or the beach, or some other place where you can feel peaceful and relaxed. If you practice at a studio, make sure it’s an environment where you feel at peace.
Leave a Reply