Scientific Benefits Of Yoga

While Yoga is mainly considered to be a physical process that unites our spiritual conscience, there's more to it. Meditation, prayer, breathwork, and rituals are some self-disciplinary practices that make up the entirety of Yoga.

Benefits

Apart from physical well-being, Yoga also ensures that your overall health gets a boost and you feel rejuvenated. Some scientific benefits of Yoga are-

• Increases flexibility

Yoga offers many asanas and styles to choose from and almost all of them contribute to improving flexibility. Yoga acts as a catalyst to increase mobility in older people.

• Relieves stress

Studies suggest that the second most cited reason for people to practice Yoga is that it releases stress. Science proves that Yoga helps lower the stress and tension levels in individuals.

• Boosts mental health

Some studies have observed that Yoga is an excellent practice to treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Both movement-based and breathing-based Yoga therapies are helpful to improve mental health.

• Reduces inflammation

Reports suggest that Yoga reduces inflammation in the body. As a result, it prevents any chronic disease.

• Increases strength

Some styles and asanas of Yoga can also be strength building. Yoga’s effectiveness at improving physical strength has been suggested by many reports.

• Reduces anxiety

There are numerous anxiety disorders that need care such as anxiety disorders, social anxiety, and phobias. Yoga in the form of meditation helps in reducing the symptoms of the same.

• Boosts immunity

Excessive stress affects your immune system directly. One is more susceptible to diseases if the immunity is weak. As Yoga is a proven way to relieve stress and reduce inflammation, it helps the body develop stronger immunity with time.

• Improves balance

Balance is important for performing daily movements. Yoga has shown considerable progress in improving bodily balance. Being consistent with Yoga makes sure that you get long-lasting benefits as well.

• Cardiovascular functioning

Pranayama or Yogic breathing greatly helps numerous systems in the body. Controlled breathing lowers the chances of change in heart rate, stroke, and more.

• Improves quality of Sleep

Yoga improves the quality of sleep. It is also because of the aftereffects of the exercise. However, Yoga has some qualities like mental calming and stress relief that allow a sound sleep.

• Boosts Bone health

Isometric contractions in Yoga provide a holistic engagement of bones. They also reverse the bone loss related to osteoporosis and osteopenia.

• Improves brain functioning

Yoga stimulates the functioning of the brain and boosts energy levels. Studies suggest that it can improve executive functioning, mental flexibility, task switching capabilities, and memory.