Yoga is a way of life and if we incorporate in our life slowly and make in an integral part of our life, we would be in a peaceful state in our everyday life. Contrary to what some may think, it is not just about exercise with the main purpose of improving health and well-being, but it’s also about self-realization. We would be able to take decisions without getting clouded by our emotions. We would think and act with complete attention, focus and awareness.
The importance of Yoga in our lives cannot be underestimated. It is a science that focuses on improving not only physical health but also mental and spiritual well-being, which are the foundations of our life.
You will be surprised at how many health benefits it has to offer. From offering relief from stress and weight management to improving your overall health, this ancient practice can help you live an ideal life.
Importance of Yoga
Man is a physical, mental and spiritual being; yoga helps promote a balanced development of all the three.
Yogic practices recharge the body and mind with cosmic energy and facilitate:
- Attainment of perfect equilibrium and harmony
- Promotes self-healing
- Increase concentration
- It’s detox body and mind
- Enhances the body and mind strength
- Increases self-awareness
- Decrease stress, anxiety, depression and tension in the physical body by activating the parasympathetic nervous system
Benefits of Yoga
Yoga as a practice offers numerous benefits for physical and mental health, development and healing. It works wonders in reducing joint pain, and muscle or back pain. It helps in reducing blood pressure levels, improves – brain function, heart functioning and lung capacity, muscle strength, balance and flexibility and much more.
Physical Health benefits of Yoga:
The physical health benefits offered by a constant and consistent Yoga practice are better-known by people. The most common of these are:
1) Improved flexibility and balance:
Flexibility is an important component of physical health. It offers many styles to choose from, varying in intensity from high to moderate to mild. Even the lowest intensity styles have been found to increase flexibility .Yoga seems to be especially helpful for improving flexibility in adults ages 65 and older.
Through the practice of yoga asanas and postures, the body moves in different directions which helps in improving the flexibility of the body. Additionally, the yoga asanas are advantageous in balancing weight, correcting posture and increasing focus.
2) Strengthens the muscles:
The yoga asanas help in building core and muscle strength. Regular practice increases endurance, upper body and muscle strength.
3) Boosts Blood Circulation:
Yoga asanas and pranayama improves oxygen supply and nutrients to the body and enhances blood circulation to the body. This improved blood flow improves the physical health of our organs. Our skin begins to glow.
4) Nourishes the skin
Sweating, and a lot of if, is one of the main objectives of hot yoga.
One of the benefits of sweating in a warm environment is that it can improve circulation, bringing oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to skin cells. This, in turn, may help to nourish your skin from the inside.
5) Better functioning of the heart and lungs:
A notable health benefit of Yoga is that it improves heart health, and oxygenation in the body and reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. When one regularly practices yoga asanas and pranayamas, it reduces heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and BMI.
Through pranayama, breathing becomes controlled and improves lung functioning by increasing its total capacity.
6) Improves Immunity
Our system is a seamless blend of the body, mind, and spirit. An irregularity in the body affects the mind and similarly, unpleasantness or restlessness in the mind can manifest as an ailment in the body. Yoga asana help massage organs and strengthens muscles while breathing techniques and meditation release stress and improve immunity
Yoga helps in building immunity and boosts every cell in the body. With Yoga, the strength of the body increases becomes healthy and keeps diseases at bay. This is a very important physical health benefit obtained through a consistent Yoga practice.
7) Yoga may help improve sleep
When measuring sleep, researchers look at a person’s ability to both fall asleep and stay asleep. Insomnia can affect one or both of these aspects.
Yoga has been shown to improve both how quickly people fall asleep and how deeply they stay asleep. This is partly due to the aftereffects of exercise and the mental calming and stress relief provided by specifically
In addition to improving anxiety, numerous studies show yoga nidra to be particularly helpful at improving sleep
8) Burns more calories
A 160-pound person can burn around 183 calories an hour with traditional yoga. Turning up the heat can help you burn even more calories.
According to researchers at Colorado State University, the calorie burn can be as high as 460 for men and 330 for women during a 90-minute Worldy yoga session.
9) Increased Focus and Awareness
Focus and Concentration are two aspects that people struggle to maintain whether it is at work or home. With the constant chatter of the mind, the attention and focus are always distracted. Thoughts are always racing in the mind, concentration is divided and stability is hard to achieve.
With the practice of asanas, pranayama and dhyana, one learns to develop a one-pointed focus and be mindful of their thoughts, word and actions. When one develops awareness, a person is alert and present in the now which boosts focus and enhances productivity.
End Words
Yoga is an experiential science and one has to practice regularly to gain optimum benefits. Once you begin practicing, you will witness the transformation on all levels and experience overall development.
Yoga is very important to individuals and also can have a positive impact on the world. At PIES, we are focused on ensuring that you have the best Yoga Experience in Northern Virginia. We have various beginner and senior yoga programs and classes at our studios in Alexandria, Virginia, please give us a call at 703-940-1948 to schedule your class.