Yoga has been studied by health professionals since the 1970s, and while yoga shouldn’t be used as a single treatment for any serious problem, regularly practicing yoga has many benefits for women and men. There are a lot of different types of yoga, some more strenuous and stressful than others. Talk with your doctor before adding yoga to your regimen if you have any specific health problems.
Stress Reduction
Yoga can help to reduce stress by allowing you to draw your focus and attention away from your body according to the Mayo Clinic. Yoga poses require balance, concentration and exact movements that can help calm you down when you’re in a bad mood or dealing with a stressful situation in your work or personal life. Many individuals that do yoga regularly feel a sense of relief or like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders after a yoga session.
Weight Loss
Obese and over-weight individuals often find yoga to be a beneficial tool for weight loss. You may not lose a great deal of weight by doing yoga alone, though certain types of yoga like Bikram yoga, which is done in a room with a temperature of 105-degrees Fahrenheit and 40-percent humidity, can help you lose weight on their own because they are quite strenuous. Yoga’s real benefit when it comes to weight loss is learning self-discipline, both physical and mental. Along with a healthy diet plan and additional exercise, yoga can be a valuable part of your weight loss plan.
Overall Physical Fitness
Practicing yoga regularly can improve your overall physical fitness. The poses employed when doing yoga can help you improve your balance and strength. When you first start doing yoga, you may feel like many of the positions require you to stretch in ways your body isn’t used to. Over time you’ll find that your flexibility and range of motion is also improved. Improved flexibility and range of motion can help prevent injury when doing day-to-day tasks.
Anxiety, Depression and Self-Esteem Issues
Yoga may help to reduce anxiety and depression according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The breathing techniques taught in yoga in particular have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, and they have even been taught to soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after returning from war. There is also some evidence that practicing yoga regularly can help improve self-confidence as the student advances.
Management of Chronic Conditions
Chronic conditions including cancer, asthma, back pain, diabetes and epilepsy may be improved by practicing yoga regularly. Pain related to joint problems and chronic diseases like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis may also be reduced. While yoga may help to reduce symptoms related to chronic conditions, it is not a cure, and should never replace medical treatment.