Ever noticed how people who practice yoga seem to glow? They’re not models but there’s a beauty there that’s not just great lighting or digital enhancement. On average, people who practice yoga are fitter, healthier, less stressed, more contented with life, and look younger – that is not a coincidence.
Physical Fitness
Practicing yoga asanas increases fitness levels in many ways. The heart and lungs receive a cardio workout with vigorous repetition of sun salutations. The muscles in the body are conditioned through the use of one’s own body weight – think how your arms and legs felt when you sat back in Utkatasana (chair pose).
Body composition improves as the muscles become toned and body fat decreases. Flexibility naturally increases, and balance is developed in all poses, from seemingly simple poses like Tadasana (mountain pose) and Padahastasana (standing forward bend) to the much more challenging Adho Mukha Vrkshasana (handstand) and Niralamba Sirasanasa (headstand with no arm support!).
Most poses can be held easily for a few seconds, but yoga asanas are meant to be held for a period of time. Any pose held for a few minutes or longer automatically increases stamina as easier poses becomes difficult and challenging poses become even more so.
Slow Down the Aging Process
Meditation is a big part of hatha yoga. The good news is that you don’t need to meditate for hours on end each day to reap these benefits. Scientific studies show 20 minutes a day is required but some people report they feel even 5 minutes daily does the trick.
Meditation helps slow down the rate of decay in cells in the whole body, including the brain. This means meditation can help you stay sharp longer and the body ages slower.
An active form of meditation is mindfulness, so it’s possible to be in a meditative state while you go about your day. You’ve experienced how your awareness increasing during meditation. Your senses become heightened. Your thoughts, feelings, and intuition become stronger.
Picture being aware each time your eyebrows furrow so you can actively release it, changing your body language. Or imagine knowing when an emotional trigger point is coming near so you can diffuse it before it explodes into anger.
Meditating and being mindful throughout the day is a crucial way to maintain harmony and peace in the body and mind. Stress becomes manageable and your immune system can stay strong to fight disease instead of excess stress and negativity.
When yoga is an integral part of your day and your outlook, it is an indispensable tool. You’ll have more energy, you’ll feel confident, you’ll be content, and you’ll be able to manage any negativity that comes your way. You’ll be healthier and look great as time passes as you’ll be living with gratitude and joy.
And that special “yoga glow”? That’s your inner beauty radiating out to the world!