Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word for yoke, “Yuji.” It is an activity practiced since ancient times and is an excellent way to focus the mind and body.
This exercise typically utilizes meditation, poses, and breathing exercises that, when combined, promotes relaxation of the body and mind while noticeably reducing stress!
The regular practice offers the body and mind many potential benefits. Some of these are backed by facts, while others, not so much.
Either way, it is hard to argue against adding this activity to your daily routine. To highlight a few great reasons women should do it every day, we’ve brought together 15 yoga benefits for your body and mind:
15 Yoga Benefits:
1. Reduces Feelings Of Stress
One great reason to do this practice as a part of your daily routine is its tremendous stress reduction abilities!
Quite a few studies concluded it could significantly reduce the hormone primarily responsible for stress, cortisol!
One such study looked at 24 women who felt under emotional stress. Following a three-month program that included this practice, the women’s cortisol levels were much lower! As a result, they reported fewer anxiety and fatigue feelings and reduced stress and depression symptoms!
2. Reduces Symptoms Of Anxiety
If you are a particularly anxious person, it may be just the thing you need to get your feelings under wraps! Many practitioners of this great exercise report significant reductions in their anxiety symptoms due to starting up the habit!
Much research has been done on this topic, and the results show promise! In one of these studies, researchers observed 34 women diagnosed with anxiety. They took bi-weekly classes for two months and, in the end, their anxious feelings lowered significantly!
3. Reduces Inflammation
Aside from some of the mental benefits of this outstanding practice, it can lower your body’s inflammation!
If you’re unfamiliar with inflammation, it is a normal function of your body’s immune system. Too much inflammation, though, and you are at risk of developing many inflammatory diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and heart disease!
During one study, people who regularly practiced this were compared to those who didn’t. In the study’s conclusion, those who practiced periodically had much lower inflammation levels than those who didn’t!
4. Improves The Health Of Your Heart
Another great reason to adopt this daily habit is that it has been beneficial to your heart’s health! Heart health is vitally important. A healthy functioning heart ensures that your body receives all the essential nutrients!
One study looked at regular practitioners over 40 who had stuck with the habit for five years or more. They noted that members of this group of individuals had noticeably lower heart rates and blood pressure!
According to some research, some also believe that it can slow down heart disease progression according to some research!
5. Improves Your Quality Of Life
No matter how happy and great your life already is, further improving the quality of your life is always a great objective to set your mind to! If you’re seeking out improvements to the quality of your life, then consider adopting this regular practice!
Researchers looked at 135 seniors and separated them into three different groups. One group was to walk for six months, another practiced yoga, and the other was designated the control group. At the end of the study, those who maintained this practice were in much better moods, less fatigued, and felt their quality of life had been improved more overall, than those of the other groups!
6. Reduces Symptoms Of Depression
If you find yourself feeling down in the dumps more often than not, consider adopting this daily practice!
Plenty of research has been done, which has shown that it can have an anti-depressant effect and may reduce symptoms of depression in many!
Some studies show that it may have an anti-depressant effect and could help decrease symptoms of depression.
Due to its potential to reduce your cortisol levels, depression symptoms drop in many individuals! Following one study, after two weeks of regular practice, they noted reduced levels of cortisol and depression symptoms in study participants!
7. Reduces Chronic Pain
If you suffer from chronic pain, this may be just what you need to start feeling better! Millions of people suffering from chronic pain welcome this natural, holistic relief method. Lots of research continues on this topic, and this practice shows signs of being a great way of accomplishing this task!
In one of these studies, 42 participants who suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome were instructed to wear a wrist splint or practice this excellent exercise for two months. Following the study’s conclusion, it was found that those who wore the wrist splint realized pain relief and improvements to their physical function to a lesser degree than those who did the exercise!
8. Improves Your Sleep Quality
Sleep and sleep quality should be a priority in everyone’s life! It’s often found these days that people put to sleep on the back burner, prioritizing other aspects of their life instead, much to their detriment!
Not getting enough quality sleep has been shown to increase the likelihood of one developing high blood pressure, depression, obesity, and other ailments!
A few studies examined yoga and sleep. Researchers found that it could improve the quality of your sleep!
9. Improves Your Balance And Flexibility
Often, we overlook our balance and flexibility. This is a mistake, though, especially as we age! Having solid balance significantly reduces our chances of falling and injuring ourselves as we age, and improving your flexibility is another great way to minimize the chances of an injury.
In one study, 66 senior participants were instructed to do this exercise or another form of bodyweight exercise. Following a year of this activity, flexibility improved by up to 4 times in the group who did yoga!
10. Improves Your Breathing
A focus on the breath and on breathing exercises is a crucial aspect of yoga’s practice. Quite a few studies have been done which found this focus on the breath may offer you improved breathing overall!
In one of these studies, 287 students took a class over the course of 15 weeks where yoga breathing exercises and poses were practiced. Following the study’s conclusion, their vital capacity was improved dramatically!
In a similar study, yoga breathing exercises were determined to improve the function of the lungs and the symptoms in those who had asthma!
11. Offers Relief From Migraines
If you are 1 out of 7 Americans that suffer from migraines, consider adopting this regular practice! Another one of the fantastic ways yoga benefits you is by potentially helping in alleviating symptoms of migraines.
Research shows that it proves helpful when used as a supplemental therapy alongside migraine medication.
As a part of one of these studies, 72 individuals who suffered from migraines were either instructed to take up this regular practice or conduct a form of self-care for three months. The results showed that those who maintained standard practice had noticeable reductions in the intensity of their migraines. These headaches also occurred less frequently and were much less painful than those who did self-care.
12. Encourages Healthy Eating
Another way yoga benefits you is by making you more mindful, mainly when eating. Being more mindful is a great thing in general, but by practicing mindful eating, you will likely find you enjoy your meals much more and eat less!
By being more present and mindful while enjoying a meal, you’ll begin adopting more healthy eating habits, resulting in faster weight loss and better blood sugar regulation.
One study found that the way it benefits you is by reducing binge eating and weight while increasing physical activity!
13. Improves Your Strength
Another one of the many yoga benefits is its potential to improve your strength! When combined with a regular exercise routine, you’ll find that you get stronger and faster!
Some poses will build muscle and improve your strength!
One study had participants doing these poses six days a week for six months. At the end of the survey, endurance and upper body strength improved, and weight loss often occurred! Women also had the extra benefit of decreased body fat!
14. Improves Your Immune System
Regularly practicing this fantastic exercise lowers your stress hormones, which improves the function of your immune system! It also makes you more mindful, which will likely result in you paying more attention to the foods you eat. As a result of eating better, your immune system will strengthen!
15. Improves Your Focus
The last reason we have for you to adopt this daily practice is that it may help improve your mind’s ability to focus. As a part of this practice, there is the concept of Drishti, our your view. It has you focus on your Drishti, which makes you better at focusing on your daily tasks!
Final Thoughts On Yoga’s Benefits
After reading through this, you should have plenty of reason to adopt this daily practice! Women, significantly, can regularly benefit from sticking to a daily routine that includes this great exercise!
Solid research supports these benefits, making omitting this activity a fundamental mistake!
Try to set aside a little time each day to incorporate this regular practice into your day!
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