Yoga and Your Body - Health Benefits of Yoga Practice

Yoga aims to bring together the mind, the body andlevel and even eye-hand coordination improves.
the spirits. People that practice yoga view that theWeight can also normalize.
mind and body are one and that if given the right tools,The psychological benefits of yoga include the
it can find harmony and find a way to heal. Practicingincreased awareness of somatic and kinesthetic
yoga is then considered to be a form of therapy.waves, improvement of mood and subjective
Awareness of posture and patterns of movement,well-being which subsequently increases social
flexibility and relaxation are only a few of the thingsadjustment. With a calmer mind, concentration,
that can be achieved with the practice. To feel fit, bememory, attention and learning efficiency can also
more energetic, be happier and more at peace areimprove.
only some of the reasons why people choose toThe biochemical benefits of yoga are effects of some
practice yoga.of the physiological benefits. Levels of glucose, sodium,
Yoga dates back to thousands of years of practice,bad cholesterol and triglycerides decrease while levels
consisting of ancient theories, observations andof good cholesterol, cholinesterase, ATP, hemoglobin,
principles about the connection between mind andvitamin C and serum protein increase. These changes
body that are now proven by modern day medicine.are all beneficial for a healthier body.
Research has proven that there are a lot of healthApart from all of this, the benefits of yoga have been
benefits, whether physiological, psychological orcompared versus that of the benefits of regular
biochemical, that can be obtained through the practiceexercise. With the slow dynamic and static
of yoga.movements of yoga, there is a lower risk of injury to
Some of the physiological benefits include a decreasemuscles and ligaments as opposed to regular exercise
in pulse rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure whichroutines due to the lesser effort and relaxed way of
in other words would mean that the cardiovascularmovement which subsequently makes for better
and respiratory efficiencies increase which can help inenergizing since breathing is not taxed. There is also a
the increase of immunity. Bodily functions likemore balanced activity of opposing muscle groups,
gastrointestinal, endocrine and excretory eitherthus being able to gain a normalized muscle tone
normalizes or improves which can help in theinstead of getting bulky.
normalization of weight. Musculoskeletal flexibility andYoga does not need to be for people that are
joint range of motion increase which can help in theextremely flexible. It can be for people that are looking
improvement of posture, dexterity, balance and theto improve on their flexibility or other areas of their
integrated functioning of body parts. In essence, gainingphysical or mental health. With these many benefits, its
all of that can help decrease any pains in the joints orno wonder why yoga has been a successful practice
muscles. With the practice of yoga, endurance, energyfor thousands of years.