A regular practice of yoga can improve your health in a variety of ways. But how do you know what type of class is right for you?
It’s best to go to a yoga class where you can ask the teacher about which poses are appropriate for your body. This is especially true if you have physical limitations or health problems, says Krucoff.
Strength
A combination of yoga and strength training is a great way to build muscle, develop strength and improve your overall fitness. When done correctly, it can help you build a lean physique, boost your stamina and even slow the rate of bone loss as you age.
When doing a strength training routine, keep your muscles warm and hydrated. Try to do strength exercises at least twice a week and increase the amount of time or weight you use as your strength increases.
In addition, always do your exercise correctly. Using the right form and technique helps minimise your chances of injury and speed up your gains.
Yoga can also improve your mobility and flexibility, which will give you the mobility to perform better when lifting weights or resistance training. This can also relieve aches and pains you may feel after exercising in the gym, so you can reduce your risk of injury.
Flexibility
Adding flexibility training to your exercise routine can be an effective way to improve mobility and reduce risk of injury. Increasing your body’s range of motion can help protect you from back injuries, repetitive-use injury, and other aches and pains.
It can also improve your overall health by releasing tension and stress, promoting better sleep, boosting mood, and cultivating body awareness. Regularly practicing yoga poses for flexibility may be a simple way to boost your health and well-being, according to researchers.
It is important to remember that gaining flexibility with yoga is a process, and you won’t see results overnight. However, most people begin to notice a difference in their flexibility within three to six months of consistent practice.
Stress Relief
Yoga is a mind-body exercise that trains you to deal with stress better. Practicing it can help you build resilience and prevent flare-ups, according to Amber Wallin, founder of Hot Mess Yoga in Chicago.
When we are faced with a stressful situation, our body responds to it with the fight-or-flight response that activates the sympathetic nervous system. This activates the adrenaline and cortisol hormones, which cause heart rate to increase and shunt blood flow to muscles, says Donielle Wilson, ND, CPM, CNS, author of The Stress Remedy.
Deep breathing can help lower the levels of stress hormones and supply more oxygen to your brain. It also helps you relax your body and quiet your mind, lowering the risk of anxiety and panic attacks.
One of the best yoga poses for stress relief is the resting posture, which puts your body and mind at ease by putting all of your muscles into a state of relaxation. Try this posture after a long day at work or whenever you need to clear your mind of anxiety and tension.
Mental Health
Yoga is a mind-body practice that promotes relaxation through breathing and stretching, and often also includes mediation. It is used to treat a wide range of mental health issues, including depression and anxiety.
It has the ability to relieve stress and boost happy endorphins in the brain, triggering mood improvements. It can also increase GABA, a neurotransmitter that helps release negative emotions and replace them with positive ones.
A regular yoga practice can also boost the immune system and help to lower cortisol, a stress hormone.
In addition, a yoga practice can improve physical endurance and stamina. It can strengthen the muscles, reduce heart rate and lower blood pressure.
Yoga therapy can be a great supplement to mental health services, offering clients an additional treatment option that may be less expensive and less invasive than medications. It can be a great way for mental health practitioners to help their clients prevent burnout by providing them with a holistic approach to healing.