Yoga has a slew of benefits, from improving your mood to helping you kick bad habits. Yoga has also been found to decrease depression and anxiety symptoms, in addition to improving self-esteem. These are just a few of the amazing benefits of this ancient practice. If it’s always been on your mind but you’ve never taken the leap, now is the time! Here are 7 surprising ways yoga can enhance your life.
1. Yoga can boost your mood
For many, yoga is a way to relieve stress and regain control of their body. The physical benefits of yoga are well-documented, but the mental benefits can be overlooked. Yoga has been found to help alleviate depression and anxiety symptoms. It also improves self-esteem for those who practice it regularly.
2. Yoga is good for your body and mind
Yoga is not just a spiritual practice—it’s an incredible workout! It not only strengthens your body but also helps you focus and improve your mental health. Yoga has been found to lower depression symptoms and anxiety, as well as reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. If you’re looking for an easy way to get more active and clear your mind, yoga is perfect for you.
3. Yoga can lower stress, anxiety, and depression
Yoga is an ancient practice that has been around for centuries. Yoga can help you improve your mood, relieve stress, and reduce anxiety and depression symptoms.
Anxiety and depression are both mental illnesses that many people struggle with. By practicing yoga, you will be able to decrease the severity of these symptoms. Yoga is a very low-impact activity that won’t leave you winded or exhausted. It’s also a low-stress activity that won’t give you any more worries to add to your already stressful life.
A study found that practicing yoga for about 6 months can be as effective as antidepressants in alleviating anxiety and depression symptoms.
The participants’ self-esteem was also higher after the study ended. In addition, the participants had better focus and concentration skills than before they started practicing yoga. Yoga has been found to increase strength and flexibility while improving posture, so it’s not just good for your mental health but your physical well-being too!
4. Yoga helps you quit bad habits
Yoga is more than a workout routine. It’s a way to cultivate body and mind awareness, which can have an impact on addictive behaviors like smoking. One study found that smokers who practiced yoga had decreased cravings and an improved ability to quit smoking.
Your bad habits may not feel like such a big deal when you’re focusing on your breath, but with yoga, it’s possible to improve habits that are bothering you. Yoga can help you break the cycle of addiction by providing emotional healing and addressing the root causes of those bad habits.
This is one reason why many people practice yoga alongside traditional therapies for addiction treatment.
5. Yoga can help you lose weight
Yoga is an excellent way to shed pounds. It’s not only a great way to work out, but also to maintain a healthy weight. Yoga can help you lose weight in the following ways:
- Increasing metabolism- Regular practice of yoga could increase your metabolism, which can lead to weight loss, according to a study from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The study found that participants who practiced yoga for 12 weeks lost an average of 2 pounds more than those who did not partake in any form of physical activity at all.
- Reducing appetite- Those who practice yoga on a regular basis have been shown to eat less food than those who don’t. One reason for this may be due to the distraction that occurs as you focus on yoga and lose yourself in the moment. Yoga can also help reduce stress and anxiety, which are both connected with overeating and unhealthy cravings.
- Increasing muscle tone- Through practicing poses like downward dog and sun salutations, you will notice increased muscle tone in your arms, legs, back and abs–all areas that contribute towards weight loss! Increased muscle tone leads to greater calorie burn throughout the day.
6. Yoga improves self-esteem
A major benefit of yoga is an increased sense of self-esteem and confidence. One study found that women who practiced yoga for 12 weeks showed higher self-esteem levels than before the study.
It’s important to feel good about oneself, and practicing yoga can help with this in more ways than one. Yoga improves balance, flexibility, and strength along with building muscle tone. This creates a greater sense of empowerment and boosts self-esteem levels.
7. Yoga increases creativity
If you want to be more creative, yoga could be the answer. Studies have found that people who practice yoga are more creative than those who don’t. One of the reasons is that yoga helps reduce anxiety, which can lead to higher levels of creativity. Yoga also increases self-awareness and mindfulness, which can help you become more in tune with your inner voice or intuition. This can also lead to enhanced creativity and better decision-making skills.
Yoga can have a dramatic impact on your life and your mood. Start your practice with these seven simple changes to your routine, and you’ll notice a difference in no time.
Comments