Now that we know the basics of yoga, let’s discuss some of the amazing benefits. Yoga has been shown to provide several physical and mental health benefits. Here are five major benefits of yoga asanas:
1. Yoga Asanas Enhance Your Memory
If you are looking to improve memory, you have come to the right place! Research has proven a direct correlation between yoga practice and improved memory.
One study took two groups of people, one who did yoga for 40 days, while the other did their normal activities. The results showed that after 12 weeks on average, those who practiced yoga had better working memory than those who did not.
Others have also found this same result, including some studies done with adults who had amnesia. Before practicing yoga, they couldn’t remember many things but discovered that it helped them regain their short-term memories after only four months of daily practice. One of these individuals said, “I have now regained my ability to remember what I was doing or where I was going. Before yoga, if someone asked me what I had for breakfast that morning, I would have no recollection. Now I can remember.”
It shows how powerful yoga can be when it comes to improving different areas of the brain; moreover, you can also add something natural to this practice, such as orange essential oil appears to be effective at reducing levels of stress and anxiety patanjaliyogafoundation.
2. Yoga Asanas Strengthen Your Immunity
If you are looking for a way to boost your immune system, look no further than yoga! According to a study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, people who practice yoga regularly have more antibodies in their saliva than those who don’t.
And not only do they have more antibodies, but these antibodies are also more effective at fighting off infection. The study found that those who practice yoga had a whopping 51% increase in their number of salivary immunoglobulin A antibodies, which fight off cold and flu viruses.
But why does this happen? Harvard Medical says that stress has a significant impact on our immune system – the more stressed we are, the weaker it can become and subsequently leaves us open to all sorts of different illnesses and infections.
Yoga is fantastic because it helps you physically and mentally relax so your body can restore itself to its normal state – an optimal state for good health!
3. Yoga Asanas Promote Weight Loss
If weight loss is your goal, practicing yoga can help! One major way it does this is by helping to increase your metabolism.
In a study published in the journal Obesity, researchers found that after 12 weeks of practicing yoga, participants had a significant decrease in their body mass index (BMI) and overall weight. They also had a reduction in their waist-to-hip ratio, which indicates dangerous abdominal fat.
But it’s not just the physical aspects of yoga that help with weight loss – the mental benefits are also compelling. When you start to practice regularly, you will become more mindful of what you eat and how much you exercise. It means that you will be less likely to overindulge or make unhealthy food choices.
4. Yoga Asanas Help Reduce Stress
If stress is a problem for you, yoga can be a great solution! A study published in the journal of Psychosomatic Medicine found that people who practice yoga have lower levels of cortisol – the hormone that is released when we are stressed.
Not only does this mean that your stress levels will be reduced, but it also has some awe-inspiring long-term benefits. According to the study, “lower cortisol levels may lead to better health outcomes over time as chronic exposure to cortisol has been linked with adverse health effects such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.”
So not only does yoga help reduce stress in the short term, but it can also help improve your overall health in the long run!
5. Yoga Asanas Increase Your Flexibility
If you want to get your splits or increase your flexibility in other ways, yoga can help! According to a study published in the Journal of Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, practicing yoga increases your range of motion patanjaliyogafoundation.
It has been tested and confirmed by scientists who did an experiment where one group did 90 minutes of Hatha yoga and another group did 90 minutes of resistance training three times per week. In the end, they found that those who practiced Hatha yoga increased their hip extension by 1.4 cm while those performing resistance training decreased it by 0.3cm! So clearly, if increasing flexibility is one of your goals, yoga is what you need!
Wrapping Up!
Yoga is a fantastic tool that allows you to control your mind and body as nothing else can.
Practicing will help reduce your stress levels, lower your cortisol levels, increase both your physical and mental health in the long term, help you lose weight, and even improve your flexibility! What’s not to love? So why not book yourself into a yoga class today! So as you can see, there are several unique benefits to practicing yoga! If you’re looking for a way to improve your overall health, give yoga a try. You won’t be disappointed! patanjaliyogafoundation
