Practicing yoga is a great way to reduce stress and increase your overall health. Not only does it improve your flexibility and strength, but it also lowers your risk of injury. These benefits can be used to complement any type of exercise plan and can help you maintain a healthier lifestyle. A slow-paced yoga session can even ease inflammation, a known culprit in heart disease.
Reduces Stress
A mind-body practice known as yoga is one of the most effective ways to manage stress. It not only helps to improve your mood, but it can also reduce your blood pressure and heart rate. Additionally, it can improve your fitness, flexibility, and strength. It may even help you cope with menopause symptoms.
Improves Sleep
Researchers have tested whether yoga improves sleep in breast cancer survivors. While some evidence suggests that yoga can help breast cancer survivors sleep better, other studies suggest it can worsen sleep quality.
Lowers Blood Pressure
One of the alternative healthcare methods that are gaining popularity is yoga, which can improve blood pressure control. Although there is no universally accepted definition of yoga, it is generally described as an ancient tradition combining postures, breath control, meditation, and specific ethical practices. The practice has been around for centuries, and today there are more than 15 million practitioners in the United States alone. Increasing numbers of healthcare professionals are suggesting yoga to their patients, too.
Lowers Cholesterol
Yoga is a powerful way to help lower your cholesterol. Many studies have shown that yoga can reduce triglycerides and raise HDLs. In some studies, HDL levels increased by as much as 11 percent and triglycerides decreased by as much as 12%. In other studies, the effects were more modest. Yoga can also lower your total cholesterol and lower your ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol. However, before starting a new exercise program, it’s best to check with your doctor.
Lowers Glucose
According to research, yoga can lower blood sugar levels. This is good news for people who suffer from diabetes. Combined with a healthy diet and regular physical activity, yoga can help diabetics maintain normal glucose levels.
Improves Mood
One study, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (JACM), shows that yoga improves mood and anxiety levels in patients with depression and anxiety. This is because yoga increases GABA levels, a chemical that regulates nerve activity. People with anxiety and depression have lower levels of GABA, which is why many people who suffer from these conditions take medications that boost GABA activity.
Improves Physical Function
According to research conducted by Johns Hopkins University, yoga has many benefits for people suffering from arthritis, including reducing pain and improving physical function. The study found that patients’ moods and energy levels improved significantly after they practiced yoga, and they were also able to experience an improved quality of life. The study is one of the largest of its kind and was published in the April issue of the Journal of Rheumatology.
Reduces Pain
Yoga can help relieve pain in many ways. It builds strength, releases tension in muscles and bolsters bones and joints. This can help alleviate pain and improve mobility. Many people find that yoga has helped with their back pain.
