Get a better figure with Yoga!

What is yoga?

Yoga is an ancient practice (about 5000 years old) that incorporates meditation, breathing exercises and poses. It encourages relaxation and helps to reduce stress. The number of people both male and female practicing Yoga has increased by more than 50% within the last decade. The practice that combines physical and mental exercise has become a popular practice Male yoga practitioners are known as yogis, while female yoga practitioners are known as yoginis.

Benefits of Yoga

Yoga comes with many promising several physical and mental benefits. In this article, we will be taking a look at some of these benefits.

1. It reduces stress.

Yoga is known for its ability to ease stress and promote relaxation. Yoga helps to reduce cortisol secretion which is a primary stress hormone.

2. It Relieves Anxiety

Yoga emphasizes on being present at the moment, experiencing a sense of peace that can help reduce anxiety to a great extent. Studies have also proven that practicing yoga can reduce anxiety.

3. Improve Heart Health

The heart is an essential component of the body. Research has shown that yoga improves heart health and reduces the chances of heart disease.

4. Improves Quality of Life

It improves the quality of our lives. Depression, sleeplessness and anxiety are reduced when you practice yoga frequently.
Recommended- How to cope with depression.

5. Combats Depression

A stress hormone called cortisol is reduced when practicing yoga. This hormone influences serotonin which is associated with depression.

6. Reduces Chronic Body Pain

Research has shown that practicing yoga helps in the reduction of chronic body pain. In a study, 42 individuals who had carpal tunnel syndrome were asked to do either a wrist splinting or yoga, after 8 weeks, yoga was seen to be more effective than wrist splinting in reducing pain.

7. Promotes the quality of sleep.

Poor sleeping habits can result in high blood pressure, obesity, depression and other health conditions. Practicing yoga frequently can help promote a night of better sleep. Chronic pain, stress & depression can affect sleep. All these issues can be reduced when yoga is incorporated into your routine.
Also recommended: How to Improve your sleep.

8. Improves Balance and Flexibility.

Certain poses in Yoga target balance and Flexibility. Therefore, several individuals have added yoga to their exercise routine in order to improve their balance and Flexibility.

9. Improve Breathing

Yogic breathing, which focuses on controlling the breath through specific breathing techniques and exercises is a common practice in Yoga. These breathing exercises aid improved breathing. Improving your breathing can optimize performance, help build endurance, and keep your heart and lungs healthy.

10. May Relieve Migraines

Severe reoccurring headaches are known as migraines. Research has shown that practicing Yoga can reduce migraines. Seventy-two (72) patients with migraine were divided into a self-care group and a yoga therapy group for 3 months. It was discovered after the study that practicing Yoga enabled a reduction in the intensity of headache and pain as compared to the self-care group.

11. It Increases Strength

There are certain poses in Yoga that are designed to increase strength. Some are designed to build muscles. Incorporating yoga into your routine can improve your health, increase your strength, relieve you of stress and anxiety.

Beginner Yoga Poses for a greater body

We can't deny the fact that Yoga helps us physically in terms of strength, mobility, balance and flexibility. But do you know that it also allows us to be more aware of our bodies and improve our overall appearance? This is why I would recommend Yoga as a form of weight loss for women looking to achieve a trimmer figure. Here are some yoga poses to get started on that will tone the whole body, work on the belly fat and aid with weight loss.

• Plank pose
• Warrior one
• Tree pose
• Downward facing dog
• Cobra pose

Plank pose

Warrior pose

Tree pose

Downward facing dog

Cobra pose

These are some yoga poses to get started on especially if you're a beginner. The more you practice, the more flexible you become. They are some near-impossible poses you might come across that only yoga practitioners could carry out but it takes time to get to that stage.

Woman in a Yoga pose

So, instead of battling with stress, depression, anxiety, pains, sleeplessness, why not include yoga into your weekly routines because Yoga is absolutely amazing for mind and body. Remember, Health is the new wealth and until then take care of yourself.