Worldwide, a growing number of people are practicing yoga. Be it in a yoga studio, a gym, outside in the park or at home following online classes: more and more people roll out their yoga mat. Clearly, yoga business is booming (although not everybody benefits, unfortunately, check out our previous blog). Not surprising, considering the benefits of the practice on many levels. Let’s start by focusing on the physical benefits of the practice, according to scientific research. Keep an eye out for upcoming blogs, about mental-emotional benefits, disease prevention, stress release on the workfloor, and more.
Widely acknowledged benefits
A regular yoga practice improves blood circulation and lowers your blood pressure. Yoga improves the respiratory system, promotes cardiovascular endurance and gastrointestinal functions. Furthermore, yoga boasts your immune system, increases your pain tolerance and metabolism. Yoga stimulates the detoxification processes within the body, delaying aging. Through consistent practice, your posture will improve, and your strength and energy levels will grow. Core strength will improve, together with your body awareness. And: your sleep will be much better.
Stress decrease
Practicing yoga decreases stress by lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body. A 2017 study focuses on the effects of yoga on stress on the workfloor:
‘The stresses of modern work life necessitate effective coping strategies that are accessible and affordable to the general public. Significant reductions in stress and all psychological health measures were found within the yoga group over 16 weeks. When compared to the control group, yoga practitioners showed significant decreases in stress, anxiety, and general psychological health, and significant increases in well-being. The group who did not practice yoga showed significant decreases in stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia after they crossed over and practiced yoga for 8 weeks.’
Effects on depression
In line with the effects on stress reduction, studies show that practicing yoga may decrease symptoms of depression. Some studies show that practicing yoga may reduce inflammatory markers in the body and helps prevent pro-inflammatory markers in the body. Finally, research supports the fact that yoga may help decrease risk factors for heart disease.
Let more people benefit!
So, when this ancient practice has these effects (and more) on health and physical wellbeing, why not strive to let as many people as possible benefit from these effects? So bit by bit this world will be a better place.
Want to learn more, check out:
https://www.intrayogatherapy.com/77-health-benefits-of-yoga#:~:text=Disease%20Prevention%3A%20Doctors%20and%20nurses,Osteoporosis, https://osteopathic.org/what-is-osteopathic-medicine/benefits-of-yoga/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/yoga-benefits-beyond-the-mat
https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/fitness/science-based-benefits-behind-yoga
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/13-benefits-of-yoga#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326414#stress
https://www.elsevier.com/connect/the-science-of-yoga-what-new-research-reveals
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2156587217715927