Top 7 Health Benefits of Yoga

Yoga originated in India thousands of years ago according to Everyday Health¹. Since then, people worldwide have been using it to enhance their physical and mental wellbeing says the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)². In fact, studies have shown yoga to be beneficial for a number of things including stress management, promoting healthy eating, and good sleep habits per NCCIH³. And you don’t need to go to a gym or studio to take a yoga class. There are plenty of options.

WebMD⁴ and Everyday Health⁵ detailed many other important health benefits, including these seven:

1. Flexibility – when you strike a yoga pose, it stretches your muscles says WebMD⁶. As a result, it helps you move more easily and feel less stiff
2. Calmness – often people will feel more relaxed and less stressed after practicing yoga states WebMD⁷. In fact, some classes incorporate meditation techniques.
3. Posture – a pose that requires standing or sitting will typically help develop your core strength says WebMD⁸, and those core muscles support your posture.
4. Strength – if ashtanga yoga or power yoga are your thing, it is going to be very physical according to WebMD⁹ and will certainly help improve your muscle tone.
5. Heart Health – because it can lower blood pressure and reduce your heart rate, yoga may be especially good for people with heart disease or who’ve had a stroke observes WebMD¹⁰.
6. Community – joining a yoga class can give participants a sense of community says Everyday Health¹¹, and reduce depression or feelings of isolation.
7. Breathing – during yoga class, participants are often encouraged to pay attention to breathing which can help you relax reports WebMD¹².

Still unsure whether yoga is right for you? Here are answers to some common questions that might help you decide.

Is yoga safe? As with any physical activity there’s a chance you could get injured says NCCIH¹³. Typically, it’s a sprain or a strain in the knee or lower leg, but overall yoga is considered safe and serious injuries are uncommon according to NCCIH¹⁴.

Can yoga help with weight loss? It appears it can. A number of studies found that obese or overweight people who practiced yoga saw their body mass index go down per NCCIH¹⁵.

Can yoga help manage pain? Yes. People with lower back and neck pain have found relief according to NCCIH¹⁶. In fact, yoga is a recommended treatment of chronic low-back pain by American College of Physicians points out NCCIH¹⁷.

If that all sounds good, why not give yoga a try? It just may bring the relaxation and healthy boost you’ve been seeking.