The practice of Yoga brings with it many physical and emotional benefits
that the majority of people are unaware of. This
article is quite long, so we have broken it up into two parts. The first part is an introduction to Yoga and a overview of
the major physical and psychological benefits of Yoga, while the second part shows how practicing yoga daily can have a
profound effect on your ability to create a healthy lifestyle for yourself.
Yoga is a science; and indeed, in many places in the world (such as India), it is referred to as a science. This is not
merely playing with words; it truly is approached as a science, which means that it is understood in terms of scientific
methods.
Yogic science seeks to verify cause and effect, and build principles based upon objective observations. Indeed, in many
places in the world, to be a yogic master of any credibility, one must be highly educated in the sciences, including
physics and the biological sciences.
This discussion on yoga as science is important for us to include because it allows us to sensibly ask the question: what
are the benefits of yoga? After all, if yoga is a faith or a belief, then asking this question isn't fair; because it's one
that yoga cannot answer in terms that we can objectively understand.
Yoga is a science; as empirical and pragmatic as kinesiology, or exercise science, which seeks to understand how the body
acts and reacts to changes in the internal physical environment. And even more simply than any of this: each of us has a
right to ask the basic question, "why should I bother practicing yoga and what experience or benefits can I expect?"
Indeed, while the experience of yoga cannot be reduced to words – just as reading a book on preparing for a marathon isn't
going to actually physically prepare you to run a marathon – the goals and principles of yoga can easily be discussed.
Here's the Mayo Clinic's take on the benefits of meditation:
"Meditation is used by people who are perfectly healthy as a means of stress reduction. But if you have a medical condition
that's worsened by stress, you might find the practice valuable in reducing the stress-related effects of allergies,
asthma, chronic pain and arthritis, among others."
Yoga involves a series of postures, during which you pay special attention to your breathing — exhaling during certain
movements and inhaling with others. You can approach yoga as a way to promote physical flexibility, strength and endurance
or as a way to enhance your spirituality.
The Mind-Body Connection
Yoga is centered on the mind-body connection. This mind-body harmony is achieved through three things:
- postures (asanas)
- proper breathing (pranayama)
- meditation
Mind and body draw inspiration and guidance from the combined practices of asanas, breathing, and meditation. As people age
(to yogis, ageing is an artificial condition), our bodies become susceptible to toxins and poisons (caused by environmental
and poor dietary factors).
Yoga helps us through a cleaning process, turning our bodies into a well synchronized and well-oiled piece of machinery.
Physical Benefits
By harmonizing these three principles, the benefits of yoga are attained. And just what are these benefits?
- equilibrium in the body's central nervous system
- decrease in pulse
- respiratory and blood pressure rates
- cardiovascular efficiency
- gastrointestinal system stabilization
- increased breath-holding time
- improved dexterity skills.
- Improved balance
- Improved depth perception
- Improved memory
Psychological Benefits
As noted above, Yoga also delivers an array of psychological benefits; and in fact, this is a very common reason why people
begin practicing it in the first place. Perhaps the most frequently mentioned psychological benefit of yoga is an improved
ability to manage stress. Yoga diminishes an individual's levels of anxiety, depression, and lethargy; thus enabling
him/her to focus on what's spiritual and important: achieving balance and happiness.
In part II of the Benefit of Yoga we'll reveal how yoga can help deal with stress, unhealthy habits and pain management.
The benefits of Yoga go far beyond meditation and stretching, it is a way to release those toxic emotions that tend to
stand in the way of living a healthy life.
article is quite long, so we have broken it up into two parts. The first part is an introduction to Yoga and a overview of
the major physical and psychological benefits of Yoga, while the second part shows how practicing yoga daily can have a
profound effect on your ability to create a healthy lifestyle for yourself.
Yoga is a science; and indeed, in many places in the world (such as India), it is referred to as a science. This is not
merely playing with words; it truly is approached as a science, which means that it is understood in terms of scientific
methods.
Yogic science seeks to verify cause and effect, and build principles based upon objective observations. Indeed, in many
places in the world, to be a yogic master of any credibility, one must be highly educated in the sciences, including
physics and the biological sciences.
This discussion on yoga as science is important for us to include because it allows us to sensibly ask the question: what
are the benefits of yoga? After all, if yoga is a faith or a belief, then asking this question isn't fair; because it's one
that yoga cannot answer in terms that we can objectively understand.
Yoga is a science; as empirical and pragmatic as kinesiology, or exercise science, which seeks to understand how the body
acts and reacts to changes in the internal physical environment. And even more simply than any of this: each of us has a
right to ask the basic question, "why should I bother practicing yoga and what experience or benefits can I expect?"
Indeed, while the experience of yoga cannot be reduced to words – just as reading a book on preparing for a marathon isn't
going to actually physically prepare you to run a marathon – the goals and principles of yoga can easily be discussed.
Here's the Mayo Clinic's take on the benefits of meditation:
"Meditation is used by people who are perfectly healthy as a means of stress reduction. But if you have a medical condition
that's worsened by stress, you might find the practice valuable in reducing the stress-related effects of allergies,
asthma, chronic pain and arthritis, among others."
Yoga involves a series of postures, during which you pay special attention to your breathing — exhaling during certain
movements and inhaling with others. You can approach yoga as a way to promote physical flexibility, strength and endurance
or as a way to enhance your spirituality.
The Mind-Body Connection
Yoga is centered on the mind-body connection. This mind-body harmony is achieved through three things:
- postures (asanas)
- proper breathing (pranayama)
- meditation
Mind and body draw inspiration and guidance from the combined practices of asanas, breathing, and meditation. As people age
(to yogis, ageing is an artificial condition), our bodies become susceptible to toxins and poisons (caused by environmental
and poor dietary factors).
Yoga helps us through a cleaning process, turning our bodies into a well synchronized and well-oiled piece of machinery.
Physical Benefits
By harmonizing these three principles, the benefits of yoga are attained. And just what are these benefits?
- equilibrium in the body's central nervous system
- decrease in pulse
- respiratory and blood pressure rates
- cardiovascular efficiency
- gastrointestinal system stabilization
- increased breath-holding time
- improved dexterity skills.
- Improved balance
- Improved depth perception
- Improved memory
Psychological Benefits
As noted above, Yoga also delivers an array of psychological benefits; and in fact, this is a very common reason why people
begin practicing it in the first place. Perhaps the most frequently mentioned psychological benefit of yoga is an improved
ability to manage stress. Yoga diminishes an individual's levels of anxiety, depression, and lethargy; thus enabling
him/her to focus on what's spiritual and important: achieving balance and happiness.
In part II of the Benefit of Yoga we'll reveal how yoga can help deal with stress, unhealthy habits and pain management.
The benefits of Yoga go far beyond meditation and stretching, it is a way to release those toxic emotions that tend to
stand in the way of living a healthy life.
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