Since a long time, yoga has been known as an alternative method of healing (including cancer) and balancing. Yoga became one of alternative options of sport that it has many benefits, so thet more people take yoga classes.
There are at least 15 benefits of the most widely obtained from yoga. Yoga practitioners themselves refuse if yoga is associated with a particular religion.
Here are the benefits of yoga for the body:
1. Healthier heart
Perhaps one of the benefits of yoga which are the most studied is the effect on heart disease. Yoga has long been known that it can lower blood pressure and slower heartbeat. The benefit of slowing the heart rate is for the people who have hypertension, heart disease and stroke.
Yoga is a key component for heart disease program that was designed by Dean Ornish, MD. This is the first program for the treatment of heart disease with lifestyle through diet compared with surgery. Yoga has also been associated with decreased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and in improving immune system function.
2. Respiratory
Breathing is also included in the yoga that will increase the capacity of our lungs. This can improve the appearance and performance. But, the typical of yoga is not focused on aerobic fitness as running or cycling. Most styles of yoga emphasizes deep and long on your breath. It also stimulates the relaxation response that will contrast with the increase of the stress response.
3. Effect on the medical condition
Yoga has become popular in the western world; medical researchers have begun studying the therapeutic benefits of yoga, which is called the integrative yoga therapy (IYT). They are used as additional medical treatment for certain conditions from clinical depression to heart disease. Another benefit that yoga make is for chronic medical conditions, such as eliminating the symptoms of asthma, back pain and arthritis.
Several studies also suggested that yoga has a positive impact on learning and memory. To be sure, and feel the benefits of yoga does not hurt you in practicing it, and start to feel the benefits of it.
4. Accelerate the healing process
When having disease and wound, yoga accelerates the healing process. Research shows yoga an effective cure high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, asthma, sleep disturbances, chronic headaches, and back pain. Yoga also improves heart function, digestion and eyesight, and help to control the pain.
5. Increasing the capacity of the senses
Yoga makes you more sensitive to the rhythms of the body, improve sensory abilities, and even a sixth sense.
6. Flexibility
When some people think of yoga, they imagine such as fitness, and they feel too old, and it’s not fit to do yoga. One part of yoga, called asanas are safe to stretch your muscles. This process releases lactic acid which usually causes stiffness, tension, pain and fatigue. In addition, yoga also increases range of motion in the joints and improve lubrication in the joints.
Stretch to yoga not only to muscles but to all the cells of your body. In a study it’s found that there is increased flexibility by 35% after 8 months of doing yoga. The greatest advantage is the flexibility in the shoulders and body.
7. Can be combined with other sports
For example aerobics and weights. Yoga also improves your overall performance.
8. Strength
Some styles of yoga such as ashtanga and power yoga is the most powerful than the others. Practicing one of these styles will help increase your muscle. Other yoga styles such as lyengar yoga, which focuses only on a motion and setting a more appropriate position, can improve strength and stamina.
Several other styles like: downward dog, upward dog, and Plank, build upper body strength. This becomes important at a certain age. Hollywood stands, especially if you spiked on how long you breathe, can build muscle strength in hamstrings, quadriceps and abdominal. If done correctly, almost all of these styles to build core strength in the abdominal muscles.
9. Posture
With the increased flexibility and force posture will produce better. The number of standing and sitting style will develop core strength. Another benefit of yoga is to raise awareness of ourselves. High awareness of this gives you a warning if you bend or slumping, so you can instantly adjust the attitude.
10. Reduce stress and be calmer
If your disease is caused by stress, yoga is the best way to heal. Yoga gives relaxation, posture exercises, breathing and meditation are effective in reducing tension and anxiety levels. Yoga also increases the body's immune system is often depressed by the stress and anxiety.
Some styles of yoga use special meditation techniques to make often stress the mind become calmer. Other yoga styles also depend on deep breathing techniques to focus the mind, which makes the mind becomes calmer.
Some of the benefits of yoga anti-stress associated with biochemical, such as a decline in catecholamine, the hormones produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress. Neurotransmitter hormone levels decrease, dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine and create a sense of calm. Some studies focus on improving the hormone oxytocin is the hormone associated with feeling relaxed and connected to others, which allows why so many romances that began at the yoga studio.
11. Concentration and a better mood
Almost every student of yoga classes feel happier and satisfied. A recent study explored the effects of yoga on depression; the benefits are the increased flow of oxygen to the brain. Yoga is also recommended as a therapy to relieve symptoms and obsessive disorder.
12. Comprehensive and integrative
Yoga is a lifestyle that is integrative covers all aspects of life, which is a technique for optimum health, physically and mentally, to help face the challenges of modern life, and changing sex lives. Yoga also makes you feel comfortable with his own body, increase self-confidence, and boost concentration and memory abilities. In addition, yoga frees life from fear and emotions and negative thoughts.
13. Growing personality
Our body is a beautiful musical instrument, but need to be played correctly and that produces a beautiful tone as well. Yoga is a safe guide search exploration of the beautiful tone because yoga drove the wrong conception about your-self. You'll also find a new meaning of life is simple and happy.
14. Harmonization of social life
Yoga build patience, tolerance, love, and forgiveness which improves the relationship with family, friends, coworkers, and others.
15. Easy and convenient
Yoga can be practiced at home or anywhere without having exhausted and sweating like at the gym. The beginners are advised to practice with the first yoga teacher.
