5 Health Benefits of Practicing Yoga
Have you heard of the Downward-facing Dog? Or maybe you know this posture by its name in sanskrit: Adho Mukha Svanasana. Whether you practice yoga or not, sure you’ve heard about its benefits for the body and mind.
Yoga is a traditional -and ancient discipline from India. Even though we’ve been practicing it for decades on this side of the world, in recent years it has caught the attention of experts and doctors as an alternative treatment for different illnesses.
These smooth and calming exercises are linked to helping prevent high blood pressure and cardiovascular anomalies, some poses even promote bone health.
But yoga benefits extend way beyond the physical realm, it can help boost our wellbeing completely:
Can improve mental health
While yoga enhances strength and flexibility, it also pushes us to connect with ourselves and breathe properly. Breathing and grounding exercises can help a lot with anxiety and depressive disorders.
Nowadays, more and more health professionals recommend yoga as a parallel treatment to cope with symptoms because it is accessible, easy to learn, and gentle with the body.
It can boost immunity
Our immune system is sensitive to stress. When we feel collapsed and tired all the time, it’s easier to catch a cold or viruses. Yoga helps to manage stress, and we can feel that effect almost immediately if it is paired with a few minutes of meditation.
Yoga can help with insomnia
Many doctors now recommend yoga to their patients with insomnia. It can make them fall asleep faster and rest uninterrupted all night long. This is because sleep quality depends on stress levels and anxiety, and yoga helps to manage these issues naturally.
It benefits posture
If you are reminding yourself about posture throughout the day, yoga can be a great tool to stop hunching your back. Better yet, yoga’s focus on mobility and flexibility contributes to better alignment of the spine.
Yoga can prevent injuries
If you go to the gym or practice a sport, yoga, it’s a nice combination to bring in. It benefits flexibility and body awareness, which may help prevent injuries due to muscle tension. It also works the tendons and ligaments, making them less susceptible to breakdown.
Pair yoga practice with delicious plant-based recipes to boost your journey! Follow me @VegHeadChef and start cooking.