Yoga means ‘to join’ or to unite. Yoga is the ultimate practice that helps our consciousness to unite with the ultimate source of creation, which helps in developing a perfect relationship between the body, mind, soul, and nature. Yoga is one of the most ancient Indian sciences that aims to improve physical, mental, social, and spiritual health.
There are a number of benefits of yoga on physical health as well as on mental health.
Yoga helps to maintain the body physically by bringing the following changes:
- By improving flexibility- During first-day yoga class, one probably won’t be able to touch toes, but in successive classes touching toes is very easy. It is due to improved flexibility.
- By building muscle strength- Muscle strength protects us from conditions like arthritis and back pain. Muscle strength with yoga does not make you lose flexibility.
- Perfects the posture- Poor posture may result in back, neck, and other muscle and joint problems.
- Improves bone health- Weight-bearing exercise strengthens bones and prevents osteoporosis. Many postures in yoga require that you lift your own weight. Also, yoga lowers the levels of the stress hormone cortisol which may help keep calcium in the bones.
- Boosts Immunity- Contracting & stretching muscles increase the drainage of lymph (a viscous fluid that is rich in immune cells). This helps the lymphatic system fight infection and dispose of the toxic waste products of cellular functioning.
- Prevents from IBS & other digestion-related issues- Ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, all of these can be triggered by stress. So less stress will prevent you from these major problems. Also, yoga can ease constipation and lower the risk of colon cancer by moving the body & by facilitating more rapid transport of food and waste products through the bowels.
- Maintains heart health- Yoga practice lowers the resting heart rate, increases endurance, and can improve maximum uptake of oxygen during exercise.
- Improves sleep quality- Yoga can provide relief from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Yoga enhances the sleep quality which means you’ll be less tired and stressed and there will be fewer chances to have accidents.
- Improves respiratory health- Yoga promotes breathing through the nose, which helps infiltration of the air, warms it (cold, dry air is more likely to trigger an asthma attack in sensitive people), and humidifies it, removes pollen and dirt and other things that are harmful to your lungs.
Impact of yoga on mental health:
Yoga also brings mental well being. Meditation and other stress-reduction techniques have been studied as possible treatments for depression and anxiety. Start your diet and yoga session with Dr Shikha’s NutriHealth.
- Helps in managing stress & other related issues- The major factor affecting the mental health of a person is stress. Yoga has miraculous effects on the management of stress. When one practices yoga then it automatically decreases the need for verbal dual or use of harsh words as compared to other approaches for the same. Yoga is very useful for managing mental disorders like depression.
- Yoga slows down the mental loops of frustration, anger, regret, fear, and desire that may cause stress. And since stress is implicated in so many other related health problems—starting from migraines and insomnia to high blood pressure, and heart attacks.
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