7 health benefits of yoga
Yoga is a practice that aims to work the body and mind in an interconnected way, with exercises that help control stress, anxiety, and pain in the body and spine, in addition to improving balance and promoting a feeling of well-being and availability, and can be practiced by men, women, children and the elderly.
To have all the benefits of Yoga, it is important that it is practiced under the guidance of a qualified teacher and that Yoga practices are done regularly.
Furthermore, it is important that performing the positions is in tune with breathing, which must be deep and conscious. In this way, it is possible for the person to acquire greater body awareness and start to better control the mind so that it influences the body and, thus, the whole organism works in a harmonious and balanced way.
Main benefits of Yoga
Some of the main benefits that Yoga can bring to health are:
1. Decrease stress and anxiety
The meditation practiced in Yoga causes the person to focus on the present, freeing the mind from past or future problems, which provides emotional balance, a sense of inner peace, well-being, and balance of mind for everyday situations.
Furthermore, the fact that breath control is worked on in all Yoga practices promotes a greater sense of relaxation, which may be accompanied by increased self-confidence, optimism, concentration, decreased irritability, and improved interpersonal relationships.
2. Promote physical conditioning
The exercises, techniques, and postures of this activity can improve the resistance and strengthening of the muscles, in a more or less intense way, depending on the style and modality of Yoga practiced.
This helps improve the body’s performance for physical activities and daily tasks, increases lean mass and leaves the body in shape, with greater definition and toned muscles.
3. Relieve bodily aches
With Yoga, the person becomes more aware of the body, which means that he will have a greater perception of posture, the way he walks, sits and signs of muscle tension. In this way, it is possible to correct alterations, such as contractures, so that any alteration is resolved and the muscular structure is relaxed, without causing damage to the spine and joints of the body.
Posture and stretching exercises also help release tension and give flexibility to muscles, relieving pain caused by scoliosis, herniated disc, fibromyalgia and muscle contractures, for example.
4. Control blood pressure and heart rate
Yoga provides improved functioning of the heart and lungs, as it regulates the nervous system and improves blood circulation, heartbeat, blood pressure, in addition to balancing the endocrine system, controlling the levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline.
Breathing capacity also improves due to lung expansion and breath control exercises. In this way, Yoga improves physical conditioning, but in a different way from conventional physical exercises, such as bodybuilding or sports.
5. Improve sleep
In addition to causing relaxation and tranquility, facilitating a good night’s sleep, Yoga increases the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep cycle, leaving you with more quality and depth.
Having a more relaxed body also makes resting better at night, providing more energy and disposition the next day.
6. Improve pleasure in intimate contact
Sexual performance can also improve with Yoga, as the couple becomes more sensitive during intimate contact, due to a greater capacity to relax and be more receptive to the partner.
In addition, with concentration control and anxiety relief, problems such as difficulty reaching orgasm, erectile dysfunction, and premature ejaculation can be controlled.
7. Facilitate weight loss
Weight loss can be considered a consequence of all the other benefits of Yoga, because when there is greater control of anxiety and stress, for example, it is possible that there is also a lesser desire to consume foods rich in sugar, for example.
In addition, since it also promotes muscle toning, there is lean mass gain, which in turn favors the fat burning process. However, this effect may vary according to the type of Yoga practiced.
Benefits for seniors
Seniors can benefit greatly from this activity, as it strengthens muscles, relieves body aches, improves balance, flexibility and attention. Pressure control, heart rate and breathing are also effects of Yoga that can bring better quality of life and well-being to the elderly, in addition to helping to control diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.
It is important to remember that the exercises practiced in this activity must be adapted to the conditions and needs of each person, so that they are done in a natural way and according to the benefits that the person seeks, thus avoiding injuries, sprains or feelings of discouragement.
Benefits for pregnant women
In addition to being beneficial for any woman, Yoga can also bring great benefits during pregnancy, as it improves flexibility and facilitates adaptation to body changes during this period, toning muscles, stretching joints, and making pregnancy less painful and tense. In addition, respiratory movements are also more synchronized, reducing the feeling of shortness of breath that occurs in the final periods of pregnancy.
The relaxation provided by being active can also reduce anxiety and worry, very common in pregnant women, making the woman calmer, and facilitating the baby’s development in a healthy way. During this period, the practice of physical exercises should be guided by a health professional and approved by the obstetrician, preferably in a light and relaxing way.
