Yoga is an incredible way to connect your mind, body, and soul. it has become a lifestyle statement many celebrities swear by its benefits. Yoga can be practised by anyone. There are various branches of Yoga and each has its own set of ideas. These ideas define the process of complete unification.
The traditions are as old as several thousand years. It also includes modern practices defined by various teachers. When you think about yoga, there are myriad benefits. You can experience the benefits on the very first day Keep in mind that getting advanced too quickly is not a great thing.
You should start gently and build up gradually. People practice yoga for different reasons. Here are the top benefits of including yoga in your lifestyle
1. Improve Metabolism for Fat Loss
Do you want to lose weight? Increase your metabolic rate to burn more calories and lose weight. Yoga has a direct effect on metabolism. The biochemical process is essential in facilitating weight loss.
You can practice a series of poses to boost metabolism. The breathing techniques that are part of different yoga poses, improve your oxygen intake and warm up the body to improve metabolism. Also, the various poses are designed to burn fat deposits by stretching and twisting the body.
Best Yoga Asanas to improve metabolism – Sukhasana, Ustrasana, Supta Virasana, Halasana, Salamba Sarvangasana, Anjaneyasana, and Garudasana.
2. Improve Muscle Strength
A well-toned body is something we all dream of. Gyms are not the only place to get a lean and well-shaped body. It is also possible with yoga. Instead of using weight and machines, yoga asanas use your own body weight to stimulate muscle growth. The right asanas will help you get a well-toned body. When performed correctly, the asanas target your muscles to tone the body. The asanas can be challenging for a beginner. But with regular practice, it will get easier.
Regular practice reduces the risk of injury and conditions your body to perform better. While weight training focuses on one muscle or a muscle group at a time, yoga tones muscles all over the body. Instead of becoming a slave to weight machines and dumbbells, you can do some yoga.
Best Yoga Poses for muscle strength: Warrior Three, Bridge Pose, Chair Pose, Plank Pose, and tree pose.
3. Reduces stress to Improve Overall well being
In addition to various physical benefits, there are also many psychological benefits of yoga. It is proved to improve the overall feeling of well being. Regular practice helps to reduce stress and improves concentration. Paying attention to your breath and practising deep breathing reduces the levels of stress hormone in your bloodstream.
Also, focusing on your breath helps you achieve clarity in your mind. Practising mindfulness helps you stay in the present moment. Yoga is also key to psychological and emotional healing. The whole practice works with the nature of the mind and its emotions. It also helps in healing issues with self-confidence and relationships.
Best yoga poses to improve mental health – Natarajasana, Virabhadrasana, Adho Mukha Vrksasana, Vajrasana, Padmasana, and Vriksasana.
4. Improves Flexibility and Joint Mobility
People who suffer from joint mobility issues experience improvement after practising yoga regularly. There are poses designed specifically to help people improve flexibility and muscle joint mobility. Since yoga poses include improvement in blood circulation it also strengthens the muscle and improves their suppleness.
Muscle joint flexibility is a key element of physical health. The body may lose flexibility due to stress, improper posture, sedentary lifestyle, and ageing. If you want to improve your flexibility, Practicing yoga is one of the best ways. Increased flexibility reduces the risk of injuries and helps you feel more relaxed.
Best Yoga Poses to improve flexibility: Parsvottanasana, Janu Sirsasana, Dhanurasana, Anjaneyasana, Gomukhasana, Halasana.
5. Improves your posture
It is a holistic approach towards overall well being. One of the main benefits includes improving your posture. The numerous poses are helpful in maintaining the right posture and eliminating back problems. Posture problems have become common as people spent hours hunched over a computer or driving a car.
It is important to pay heed to our posture as slouching can lead to serious health issues. The number of people facing back and neck pain is increasing by the days. Yoga poses can increase your body awareness and core strength for improving your posture. Incorrect posture can be corrected through yoga. With an improved posture, you can look taller, thinner, and confident.
Best Yoga Poses to improve flexibility: Balasana, Trikonasana, Dhanurasana, Setu Bandhasana, Utkatasana, Virabhadrasana, and Naukasana
Things to keep in mind to Maximize the Benefits
Are you mesmerized to know about these amazing benefits? Before you roll out your yoga mat and start practising the asanas there are certain things to keep in mind. You don’t have to be an expert to reap the benefits, yoga is for everyone. It has the power to calm your mind and strengthen the body.
Make sure your stomach is empty Ideally, you should practice yoga on an empty stomach in the morning. There should be no intake of food while you do the practice. It is common to feel awkward for beginners practising for the first time. It will pass with time. Stay in the moment and accept your limitation as you get used to the practice. Once you are comfortable, you can start setting appropriate goals.
Start with basic postures You can start with a warm-up sequence or try one of the basic yoga poses such as cobra, mountain, or forward bend pose. You should add new poses slowly once you master the basic and beginning level postures.
Notice your breathing The most important thing is to breathe properly when holding a pose. Move slowly through each pose and remember to breathe. Yoga helps you become mentally and physically stronger.
A flexible body helps you lead an enriched life. The various forms of yoga have been used for healing various ailments and improve overall well-being.
It is important to enjoy yoga to get the maximum benefits if you feel any kind of discomfort stop the practice and consult a professional yoga teacher for assistance.
