Yoga is a system of physical, mental and spiritual development that originated in India over 2000 years ago. It combines postures, meditation and breathing techniques to promote wellness.
Research shows that regular practice of yoga can help you strengthen your mind and body. It also can reduce stress and improve sleep.
Strengthening
Yoga in Plano helps you build strength in your arms, legs and core. Some poses, such as the Revolved Half Moon pose and Boat pose, also help sculpt your back, thighs, hips and chest area.
Practicing yoga regularly will keep your spinal disks healthy, since they require a lot of movement to receive nutrients from the fluid within them and maintain their elasticity.
The practice also increases the flow of lymph, a fluid that helps support the immune system and decreases inflammation. Increased lymphatic drainage also helps reduce chronic pain and improves immunity to respiratory illnesses.
Flexibility
Flexibility is like a muscle — it’s an important part of your body’s movement. It doesn’t just make movement easier; it can help prevent injuries and promote better circulation, too.
Yoga is an excellent way to stretch your muscles, tendons and ligaments. It’s also great for boosting your energy levels and calming your mind.
One of the most popular stretches is standing bound forward fold pose, which stretches tight hips and hamstrings. The pose can also increase blood flow in the lower abdomen.
If you have limited flexibility, yoga can be an effective way to improve it safely and gradually over time. It’s a great way to balance out other types of exercise, too, Parker says.
Relaxation
Yoga relaxation techniques can help you reduce stress and achieve a sense of calm. These methods can also help you cope with health problems and improve your general well-being.
Relaxation is a process of consciously and gradually ceasing all physical and mental activity to achieve a state of rest. There are two types of relaxation, passive and dynamic.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation: This technique involves tensing each muscle group in your body systematically, starting with your toes and working your way up to your head. Tense these muscles for about 5 seconds and then release them.
Visualization is another relaxation technique that helps you focus on your feelings and thoughts. Create a mental image of a peaceful place or situation, and imagine yourself relaxing there.
Meditation
Yoga meditation is a practice that promotes relaxation and a calmer state of mind. It helps reduce stress, improves sleep, and relieves anxiety and depression.
Studies show that practicing yoga meditation can increase the size of parts of the brain that help you make decisions and strengthen your willpower (Froeliger, 2012). It also decreases levels of stress hormones like cortisol, which can lead to a better quality of life for people with chronic health conditions.
Meditation is a form of attention training that trains the mind to focus on an object, such as the breath, sound, image or a philosophical or spiritual concept. This process, which is often called dhyana in yoga, is the seventh limb of Patanjali’s eight-limbed system and precedes samadhi, the final stage.
Emotional Well-Being
Yoga can help people improve their emotional well-being through physical postures, breathing techniques and meditation. These techniques can help reduce anxiety and stress, improve self-esteem, and boost mood.
Yoga’s physical practice also helps to release serotonin, a neurotransmitter that’s been linked to better mood. This is why more mental health professionals are encouraging their patients to start yoga exercises outside of therapy sessions.
Studies have shown that yoga can improve emotional well-being through mental concentration, breath regulation, and deep relaxation. It can also increase resilience, and enhance mood and self-regulation skills.