Flexibility, Stress Relief, Health, and Physical Fitness: What Am I Referring To?

How Yoga Transforms Your Body.jpg

You probably guessed I'm referring to yoga asana practice, or postures. The health benefits of yoga are very real, but sometimes we're enjoying practicing so much we forget about that fact. 

Here are some recent studies that helped me to take my practice more seriously:

--A recent review published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiologyshowed that yoga lowered the risk of heart disease as well as regular exercise did. On average yoga participants lost 5 pounds, decreased their blood pressure, and lowered their "bad" cholesterol by 12 points. 

--Scientists have found yoga grants a "neuroprotective" effect that actually helps prevent age-related gray matter decline. In this study, published in Frontiers in Human NeuroScience, people with more yoga experience actually had brain volumes typical for much younger people. 

---And many, many studies are beginning to show yoga's benefits for chronic pain, asthma, obesity, fatigue and IBS.

Regular yoga can also increase:

  • Kindness

  • Compassion

  • Self-Reflection

  • Evolution and Continued Growth

  • Self-Awareness

I practice yoga because I love how it makes me feel, during and after class.  It opens my heart, it's fun, and it's something that I can engage in, even with my limitations.

Reflection Question: What are the reasons you practice yoga?

MovementSuzanne Lynchmovement, yoga, healthy habits, stress reliefComment