Yoga – A Holistic System That Cultivates Health and Wellbeing

yoga

Yoga is a holistic system that cultivates health and wellbeing (physical, emotional, mental and social) through the regular practice of a variety of different techniques.

Many of the techniques include postures and movement, breath awareness and breathing exercises, relaxation and concentration, self-inquiry and meditation.

Physical

Yoga is a holistic practice that benefits the body and mind. It combines mindful movement with meditation and the power of breathing.

One of the most obvious physical benefits of yoga is increased flexibility. It improves range of motion, lubricates joints, and reduces aches and pains.

It also helps build strength in your legs, arms, back, and core. For example, Tree Pose (Vrksasana) strengthens your leg muscles and lower body, while Chair Pose builds strength in the upper body.

In addition, yoga can help you reduce stress. When you focus on your breath and relax, it helps to slow the loops of frustration, anger, fear, regret, and desire that can cause stress.

Mental

Yoga has many mental benefits, including lowering the levels of cortisol (the primary stress hormone), boosting levels of GABA, which is naturally produced by your brain to regulate nerves, and improving sleep.

It can also increase self-esteem, helping you feel like you are worthy of your own time and a non-judgmental relationship with yourself. You can even use yoga as a way to improve your concentration in daily tasks and overcome the challenge of juggling multiple priorities.

In addition, research shows that yoga increases the volume in key areas of the brain, including the hippocampus and amygdala. These structures are involved in memory, emotion regulation and self-control.

Practicing yoga can help relieve anxiety and depression, and reduce symptoms of PTSD in people who have experienced traumatic events. It can also improve your mood and boost your energy and motivation to get things done. It’s no wonder that treatment centers are adding it as part of their holistic approach to treating a wide range of mental disorders.

Emotional

Yoga is a well-known exercise form that has been shown to reduce anxiety, improve social attachments and alleviate depression. Its effects are now also being seen in trauma survivors.

In a study of women diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yoga significantly reduced symptoms. It may even be more effective than other psychotherapy techniques.

Its positive effect on mood is largely attributed to the practice’s ability to increase brain levels of GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter that lowers negative emotions and promotes positive ones.

Another popular mental health practice is mindfulness meditation. It involves noticing body sensations and thoughts and then letting them pass without judgment. It is thought to have a protective effect on depression, anxiety, PTSD and other mental illnesses.

Spiritual

Yoga is a holistic system that offers physical, mental and spiritual benefits. While a lot of people view Yoga as just a fitness routine, spirituality has been a vital part of its genesis.

One of the spiritual aspects of yoga is that it teaches us to slow down, focus and declutter our minds. This is particularly helpful when we are under pressure or experiencing stress.

It also helps us to develop spiritual awareness of the world we live in. This enables us to see, smell and sense more of the world around us; we become more accepting of ourselves and our life situations.

To achieve this, we need to learn and practice yoga as a spiritual discipline. This means incorporating yoga philosophy, meditation, consecration and prayer, as well as the support of an integral yoga community (teachers and other practitioners).