Introduction

Stressed from school? Tired body from sports? Out of touch? Regularly practicing yoga has a plethora of physical and mental benefits for all ages, including helping the symptoms mentioned above. Dr. Nevins, an osteopathic physician, says, “As an osteopathic physician, I focus a lot of my efforts on preventive medicine and practices, and in the body’s ability to heal itself. Yoga is a great tool for staying healthy because it’s based on similar principles.”

Yoga can make you feel better regardless of experience – anyone from a couch potato to a professional athlete can find a type right for them. Between the different types, levels, and modifications, there are no limits. Not everyone needs to twist themselves into a pretzel to be “successful.” Yoga is not about the shapes you can make- it’s about getting more in tune with your body.

Most Common Benefits of Yoga

1. Improves strength, flexibility and balance

• Holding poses can build strength, while slow movements and stretches increase blood flow and relax muscles.

2. Helps with pain relief

• Yoga can ease pain and improve mobility in people with back pain.

• It can also reduce the pain around joints for people with arthritis.

3. Benefits heart health

• Because regularly practiced yoga can reduce stress levels and inflammation, it benefits heart health.

• Yoga also helps lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, which is good for your heart and blood vessels

4. Increases relaxation and better sleep

• Bedtime yoga can help you get in the right mindset for sleep, which can help your body fall asleep and stay asleep.

• Yoga can also reduce insomnia.

5. Can improve energy and mood

• Yoga can increase your mental and physical energy, and it can reduce negative feelings.

6. Helps manage stress

• Yoga can develop coping mechanisms that help manage stress.

• It can also create mental clarity and calmness, which can reduce stress.

7. Boosts body image

• Yoga helps develop body awareness and strength of both mind and body.

• Yoga studios typically don’t have mirrors so people can focus their attention inwards rather than outward appearances of themselves or others because it is not about physical appearance.

8. Increases mindfulness

• Yoga forces you to focus your attention on the present moment without judging yourself, which makes you more in tune with your body.

• It is shown to increase mindfulness in other areas of a person’s life than just class when practicing regularly

Conclusion

Yoga is a great way to get more in tune with your body and improve your health. Anyone and everyone can partake in this activity, and there are no limits to the different kinds of yoga you can try.

Works Cited

“The Benefits of Yoga.” American Osteopathic Association, osteopathic.org/what-is-osteopathic-medicine/benefits-of-yoga/. Accessed 26 June 2021.

“9 Benefits of Yoga.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/9-benefits-of-yoga. Accessed 26 June 2021.

“Yoga – Benefits Beyond the Mat.” Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School, www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/yoga-benefits-beyond-the-mat. Accessed 26 June 2021.