Yoga for Health

Yoga is an ancient Indian practice that aims at harmonizing body, mind and soul. Maybe it’s one of the easiest ways to relax, reduce stress and boost one’s health. It gives more flexibility to the joints and muscles and also gives clarity to the mind. Due to its short term as well as long time benefits, there’s an increase in the number of people who opt for this mode of healthy living.

Yoga gives different benefits for one to choose from. Some are inspired by its spiritual element while some by its increased fitness and flexibility of the body. Some find solutions for varied health disorders and there are others who achieve calm, stress free mind and a fit body.

There are different kinds of yoga, ranging from the gentle hatha yoga to the more strenuous like power yoga. Every form of yoga improves one’s health from head to toe. Yoga involves all the muscles in the body to hold and balance yoga asanas (poses) thus making the body strong. Hatha yoga relieves chronic neck and back pain. Its an excellent weight – bearing exercise that improves bone density. This is particularly beneficial for women approaching menopause, since it can ward off thinning of the bone.

Yoga also benefits the heart. Gentler forms of yoga lowers the blood pressure and heart rate that benefits people suffering from hypertension. Many practitioners claim that it has helped to lower their cholesterol levels. Power yoga strengthens cardio muscles while keeping the blood and oxygen circulating throughout the body.

Yoga benefits mental health by helping them to relax. It’s an effective form of psychological therapy. It reduces anxiety and stress, resulting in better health, mood and concentration throughout the day. Yoga has been used to treat a wide variety of emotional and mental disorders , including acute anxiety, depression and mood swings. Children with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity can learn to relax and get control by using yoga breathing and yoga asanas. As yoga involves meditation, it results in an inner sense of peace and purpose, which has a far reaching health benefits. It has also been useful in healing victims of torture and trauma.

Yoga circulates blood and oxygen to the head which in turn can help to get rid of tension headaches and migraines. If done regularly, yoga helps boost antioxidants throughout the body, resulting in stronger immune system and improved ability to recover from injury or disease. It helps to lose weight and maintain a constant weight throughout the life. Power yoga is a vigorous form of yoga that helps in burning of the calories.

Yoga helps to cure insomnia as it leads to better sleep. It helps to fight fatigue and maintains the energy throughout the day. It reduces stiffness, malaise, fatigue and weakness which are symptoms of variety of auto immune diseases.

Integrating yoga in one’s daily schedule, gives many physical and psychological benefits. In this fast paced lifestyle, yoga can be viewed as a fresh breath of air.