Importance of yoga in our life Benefits of Yoga

Importance and Benefits of Yoga

What is Yoga?

Yoga is an ancient Indian discipline focusing on physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. It is derived from the Sanskrit word yuj, meaning to yoke or to unite. The goal of the practice is to harmonise the individual self with the global consciousness, fusing the body, mind, and spirit to bring about spiritual awakening.

Multiple interpretations and methods of yoga have evolved over thousands of years, although most practitioners agree that its ultimate purpose is to enable freedom from suffering. Yoga has numerous mental and physical benefits for almost all ages. Let us discuss a few of its benefits.

Importance of Yoga

Traditional yoga forms have also been practised for over 5,000 years, and the discipline remains relevant. Several research reports have linked regular yoga practice to multiple health advantages, like improved muscular strength, cardiovascular health, and blood pressure. Yoga is known for its vital role in combating stress and encouraging better sleeping habits. People who practice yoga over a sustained period have reported feeling stress-free and happier as well. This happens due to the meditative quality of yoga that focuses on aligning breathing and physical postures for the best possible results. Yoga is more than just bending, stretching, twisting or even holding your breath. It raises your self-awareness considerably while helping you declutter your mind. This is the importance of yoga in our life, particularly for the sense of well-being and unity it creates. Let us now read below on the benefits of yoga that you should know more about.

Benefits of Yoga

Here are some of the key benefits of yoga that you should know more about.

Physical Health Benefits

Yoga unarguably boosts physical health. Here’s a look at its health benefits.

Prevents Heart Diseases

What comes to your mind when you think of cardio exercises? Most people will think of bicycling, walking, running, or even rowing, for that matter. Did you know that yoga can also be an excellent cardio option? A 2018 study has confirmed that the Vinyasa flow style of yoga can be a good alternative to boost heart health. Another 2021 study of this style discovered that it significantly lowers lipid concentrations (fat stores) in the body along with cholesterol. Hence, the importance of yoga in our life is unparalleled when it comes to maintaining a healthy heart. If you’re new to the discipline, start off with the Tadasana or Mountain Pose to reap these benefits.

Reduces Chronic Pain

Yoga is as effective as simple stretching to lower pain and enhance the range of motion (for those suffering from lower back pain). This has been testified by the American College of Physicians, which states that yoga is a first-line therapy for persistent lower back pain. At the same time, yoga may also contribute to increasing the body's overall pain threshold. Yin yoga makes for a wonderful choice in this regard, particularly for its flowing yoga postures.

Improves Flexibility and Balance

Yoga also strengthens your balance and gives you more control over your body. You can acquire bodily equilibrium by balancing on one foot and keeping the other at a straight angle or next to your calf, but never on the knee. While holding a position might help you gain strength, slow motions and deep breathing help your muscles warm up and improve blood flow. This can be achieved at a young age, and schools should thus be aware of the importance of yoga in physical education for this purpose. This is because yoga helps with attention, focus and concentration, which are essential for children.

Increases muscle strength

Since asanas are isometric, they depend on maintaining muscular tension for a short while, which can last several minutes. The mild stretching improves flexibility and relieves stiffness and stress in the muscles and joints. Practising several asanas promotes endurance and strength while simultaneously boosting blood flow and relieving tense muscles.

Improves respiration

Yoga enhances overall energy since it requires a great deal of deliberate breathing activity/practice. Yoga involves fully inflating your lungs, which makes them function more effectively. Asanas, which are known to adjust the spine and lengthen and stretch the surrounding muscles, keep the respiratory muscles strong and flexible. At the same time, prolonged inhalation and exhalation in poses like Pranayama further support the respiratory muscles.

Mental Health Benefits

As they say, yoga is the fusion of the mind and body into a unified whole. Here are some of its mental health benefits.

Reduces stress

The National Institute of Health’s research shows that yoga has proven benefits for mental health, stress reduction, mindfulness, mindful eating, weight loss, and restful sleep. Thus, the importance of yoga in human life cannot be understated, particularly in the backdrop of our increasingly stressful and hectic modern lives. Regular yoga sessions also promote healthier hearts by eliminating inflammatory markers throughout the body.

Relieves anxiety

Yoga has several long-term benefits, including reduced tension and anxiety and improved focus. Yin yoga or other systems like Hatha yoga may help you decompress and relax better.

Fights depression

Yoga may also help you combat depression and negative feelings. The three components of yoga, namely mindfulness, physical activity, and meditation, combine to lower symptoms of depression. The importance of yoga in life is unparalleled in combating anxiety and depression, and you can consider moves like Kapalbhati and Pranayama for this purpose.

Improves sleep quality

Yoga helps you effectively calm your mind and control your thoughts. As per several reports, regular yoga before bedtime can help you prepare your body for restful sleep. This is why yoga is important in our life. You can consider the leg-up-the-wall posture to help you sleep better. It involves spending five to fifteen minutes in this pose before going to bed.

Stimulates brain functioning

Your brain's structure and functioning witness changes once you begin practising yoga. Your brain cells begin to form vital new connections as a result. These enhance cognitive abilities like learning and memory. The parts of the brain that are involved in attention, memory, cognition, consciousness, and language are also strengthened by yoga. Paschimottanasana, Sarvangasana, and Pranayama are some of the best yoga moves to enhance brain activity. If you want to master these asanas, you will find a wealth of information available online today, including tips on yoga in English.

Conclusion

To sum up, then, why yoga is important? It helps to manage stress and builds higher body awareness while improving cardiovascular health and fitness levels. Practising yoga regularly may help you connect better with your inner self while enabling improved mental health and wellness. So, embrace the benefits of yoga this International Yoga Day and take the first step towards a better life.