yoga benefits

Yoga benefits all three main aspects of life, the spirit, mind, and body.  There are also some basic practical yoga benefits I should mention.

Consider the simplicity and ease of yoga.  It fits into your everyday life as easily as any basic workout program. And unlike many programs, you don't need any special equipment other than a spot on the floor, your mind, and your body.  

And while many exercises only benefit the body, yoga benefits the whole person.  The yogic system of asanas (meaning steady pose) emphasize deep breathing, relaxed movements, and mental concentration. Asanas develop the entire body/mind/spirit. Practicing asanas can also help you discover your true potential. 

In all the different forms of yoga, there are literally hundreds of yoga poses that you can perform.  We recommend you learn as much as you like, then "edit" your list down to the ones that fit you best.

Yoga Benefits - Physical Health 

Stretching, which is one of the components of yoga, has long been considered vital to health, and a prerequisite to many other forms of exercise or physical sport.  

STRESS RELATED PROBLEMS:

Both acute and long-term stress can lead to muscle tension and exacerbate back problems. Yoga has been used to cure and prevent back pain by enhancing strength, flexibility, and reducing stress. 

Yoga is highly recommended for people in stressful working environments, for those who suffer from headaches, back and shoulder aches, allergies and Asthma.

Physicians have found that the concentration abilities and yogic meditation combined with doing yoga postures and breathing, make their treatment more effective. Yoga also results in greater reduction in anxiety scores than drug therapy. Doctors believe that yoga practice helps patients by enabling them to gain access to their own internal experience and increased self-awareness.

Yoga exercises have been used to provide relief to joints.  Easy stretches and deep breathing relieve the tension that binds up the muscles and further tightens the joints. Yoga is exercise and relaxation rolled into one - the perfect anti-arthritis formula?

WEIGHT/Diet

Regular yoga practice can help in weight management. Firstly, some of the asanas stimulate sluggish glands to increase their hormonal secretions. The thyroid gland, especially, has a big effect on our weight because it affects body metabolism. There are several asanas, such as the shoulder stand and the fish posture, which are specific for the thyroid gland. Fat metabolism is also increased, so fat is converted to muscle and energy. This means that, as well as losing fat, you will have better muscle tone and a higher vitality level.

Part of yoga practice is deep breathing, which helps make the body more alkaline. The acid: alkaline ratio is crucial to good health. It should be 80 per cent alkaline, 20 per cent acid. Over-acidity can be harmful for bones and tissues, leading to fatigue, dulled mentality, headaches, depression and arthritis. Refined carbohydrates, animal proteins, coffee and alcohol, as well as stress and pollution are all acid forming.

Asthma and disease:

Studies conducted at yoga institutions have reported great success in improving asthma. It has also been proved that asthma attacks can usually be prevented by yoga methods without resorting to drugs. Studies also show it can relieve the symptoms of several common and potentially life-threatening illnesses such as arthritis, arteriosclerosis, chronic fatigue, diabetes, AIDS, asthma and obesity.

Beginning precautions:

When you're starting up, you shouldn't do anything your body isn't ready for. No head stands, backward bending or forcing yourself into a cross-legged position. In fact, we advise against ever doing headstands, beginner or advanced (unless using special apparatus to prevent neck injury).

Start slowly and build your way up to a healthy flexible body.  Yoga improves posture, increases the intake of oxygen, and enhances the functioning of the respiratory, digestive, endocrine, reproductive, and elimination systems. Its effects on the emotions are equally beneficial: calming the mind, attuning us to the environment, and diminishing insomnia caused by mental restlessness. Yoga also works to unite the split between the mind and the body.  The regular practice of yoga helps us to accept whatever physical or mental conditions we might be suffering from by increasing our immediate sense of well being, concentration, and calm. Much healing can be done, but it takes practice and consistency.

MENTAL/EMOTIONAL/SPIRITUAL BENEFITS:

Deep, yogic breathing helps to cleanse and nourish the physical body. You are supplying a great amount of oxygen, an element that is essential to every cell in the body. As you exhale, the waste products are being expelled. Breathing also helps to connect to where tremendous potential energy is stored. When tapped through specific yogic breathing techniques, this vital energy is released for physical and mental rejuvenation. Plus breathing crosses over into the mental and spiritual realms, tapping the power of the subconscious mind, and spiritual energies. 

Yoga is a holistic form of exercise and its benefits go way beyond the physical, and into the mental and emotional fields. Yoga can be a beneficial addition to a medically prescribed teatment plan, and can help to alleviate the mental and emotional symptoms of illnesses more quickly.

One of the core components of most yoga systems is the practice of meditation that can help to alleviate symptoms of illness in two ways: by quieting the mind and eliminating repeated negative messages, and by focusing the mind on positive thoughts and images.

Yoga Benefits For All Ages
Whatever your age, yoga can enhance your lifestyle.

As well as being fun for children, learning yoga develops self-discipline and can enhance their physical and mental health. Asanas are good for developing coordination and help to improve concentration and memory. Regular practice can enable young people to keep their natural flexibility for many years.

It can help teenagers to keep their youthful flexibility and give them the inner strength to say no to negative influences.

Older people often find that gentle yoga exercises allow them to retain mobility and may relieve problems such as arthritis and poor circulation.

During pregnancy, yoga promotes good health in both mother and unborn child. Yoga asanas lessen the effects of such problems as overweight, backache, and depression. Most women who practice yoga find that it can make labor easier and shorter. Although some asanas have to be modified during pregnancy, their essence is perfectly suited to this time of expanded self-awareness. Pregnancy is also a very good time for meditation.

Everyone can benefit from following a regular yoga routine, as it counteracts many of the problems suffered in modern life. Asanas release the physical tensions caused by hours of sitting, deep breathing gives vitality by increasing the supply of oxygen to the brain and meditation enhances the powers of concentration. Yoga improves strength and flexibility in the mind as well as the body, and aids relaxation. Yoga can enable one to relax fully, and promotes sound sleep; it also improves digestion and stimulates circulation. It frees the practitioner both physically and mentally, often heightening intuition and creativity.

Stretch for a few minutes every day. While almost all exercise can be beneficial depending on the amount and body condition, practicing yoga ultimately leads you toward long-term health and well being.

Biochemical Effects

The biochemical profile improves, indicating an antistress and antioxidant effect, important in the prevention of degenerative diseases.

• Glucose decreases
• Sodium decreases
• Total cholesterol decreases
• Triglycerides decrease
• HDL cholesterol increases
• LDL cholesterol decreases
• VLDL cholesterol decreases
• Cholinesterase increases
• Catecholamines decrease
• ATPase increases
• Hematocrit increases
• Hemoglobin increases
• Lymphocyte count increases
• Total white blood cell count decreases
• Thyroxin increases
• Vitamin C increases
• Total serum protein increases

FDA Disclaimer: These statements haven’t been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. If you have a health concern or condition, consult a physician. Always consult your physician before starting any new exercise program.

Disclaimer: Do not practice or begin any exercise program without the knowledge and approval of your physician 

© 2001-2012 Yoga Videos™