Living under constant stress as well as a fast pace of life significantly affect our health and well-being. But there is much we can do to make our lives more pleasant and to re-enforce our sense of sanity. Here, physical activity comes to our rescue. Specifically, yoga is one such form of exercise that aims to nourish the body and mind alike. What exactly is yoga and what are the benefits of practicing it? Let’s find out!

ABOUT YOGA

There is no specific definition of yoga. For some, it is a lifestyle that aims to maintain a balance between body and mind. Others, on the other hand, define this activity as a practice that unites the body, mind, and spirit. However, we must tell ourselves that yoga is not a sport, at least not in the sense of exercising in the gym or swimming. Yoga is a training for the body and mind. The natural result of its practice is better well-being and flexibility of the body.

HOW DO I GET STARTED? A FEW TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

• Every person who is just starting out with yoga should do it under the supervision of a professional. You can sign up for classes for beginners or purchase individual lessons.
• It is also important not to compare yourself to others. We strive for different shapes of positions, but it may be impossible to accurately reproduce the asana that the teacher demonstrates for physiological reasons. After all, everyone has a different body structure, right?
• The last meal – it should be light. Do not consume hard-to-digest foods before your practice if possible.
• Let’s exercise regularly and stick to this rule. If we want to see the beneficial effects of yoga, it is enough to train 10-30 min 2-3 times a week. In this way we can make a habit of it.
• No distractions… during practice, turn off all devices that may distract you. No phones, no TV- just silence.

THE BENEFITS OF PRACTICING YOGA

IMPROVES THE EFFICIENCY OF THE BODY

By practicing yoga regularly, we will not only strengthen our body, but it will also become more flexible, resistant and flexible, as a result of which it will be less susceptible to injuries.

Asanas, or yoga positions, develop the body, because during their performance we engage all muscle groups, joints and bones evenly.

Interestingly, according to the conducted research, hatha-yoga has a great effect on the health of exercisers. Respondents found an increase in endurance and resistance of the body, improvement in flexibility and muscle strengthening.

RELIEVES HEADACHES

Regular yoga practice relieves muscle tension, encourages deep breathing and reduces stress. If you frequently get tired of tension-induced headaches, yoga is a prime remedy.

YOU WILL BECOME TALLER

Of course, this is not about growing, but performing asanas forces us to maintain an upright body posture. I’m not talking about hunching over. And you know that an upright person automatically seems taller, right?

RELIEVES MENSTRUAL PAIN

If you are struggling with severe menstrual pains, yoga will help you relieve them. Some positions stretch and relax the pelvis and abdominal organs, relieving menstrual pain.

INFLUENCES THE CHANGE IN SELF-PERCEPTION

Practicing yoga causes the awareness of one’s own body and its capabilities to grow, the mood and the perception of one’s own person to improve. We begin to accept ourselves as we are- imperfect at best hah!

HELPS TO LOSE WEIGHT

Of course, the main purpose of yoga is not exactly to lose weight. However, this does not mean that during exercise we will not be able to lose some kilograms. However, we have to wait a little longer for slimming effects than in the case of aerobic or gym exercises. Regularly practicing yoga (at least twice a week) will not only sculpt and slim our figure, but also increase the awareness of our body and its acceptance.

IMPROVED SLEEP

Practicing yoga increases the secretion of melatonin, or the sleep hormone. Not only will we fall asleep faster, but our sleep will also be longer and we will be more rested in the morning.

If you want to know more about sleeping disorder, take a look at our article here.

CLEARS THE MIND

Daily stress negatively affects the functioning of our body both physically and mentally. Yoga can be a great way to manage stress. Of course, we will have to wait a bit for the effects to kick in, but regular yoga practice will calm our nervous system. What’s more, people who regularly practice yoga have noticed a significant improvement in their skin condition, as well as a smaller amount of hair loss!

ALL IN ALL

As you can see, the list of benefits of doing yoga speak for themselves, right? Is it worth practicing yoga? I think it is. Of course, as in any physical activity, injuries can happen, but only in the case of improperly performed asanas. Therefore, if we are just starting our adventure with yoga, it is worth doing exercises under the supervision of an experienced person. Regularly practicing yoga can bring us only benefits! The question remains, “Do you have a yoga mat nearby”?