The Benefits of Yoga

You are only one class away from your path to “well-being”.

“Yoga is not a religion. It is a science of integrating body, mind, and soul. “- Amit Ray

Anxiety is one of the most common problems for Americans. A study in 2005 showed that 40 million or 18.1% of the population ages 18 and older have anxiety disorder. Yoga can be most useful in reducing your anxieties.

Yoga is a combination of physical, mental, and emotional practices to help achieve peacefulness of mind and body. It originated in India as part of Hinduism but slowly spread into other religions such as Buddhism and Jainism. There are several forms of yoga from light-intensity to heavy-intensity. Some examples would include:

Hatha– most common type associated with yoga. It combines basic movements with breathing.
Vinyasa– includes a combination of movements that flows together.
Ashtanga– uses a unique breathing technique
Iyengar– uses props like chairs or blocks to help align the body
Power– heavy-intensity workout for building muscles.

Another study in 2014 that focused on the effect of yoga on the group of 30 individuals from 20-30 years old concluded that yoga could significantly decrease the anxiety level of average youth.

Benefits of Yoga:

It helps release stress. Studies show that doing yoga is linked with reduced stress and anxiety while elevating the overall mood of the individual.
Great for exercise. Doing yoga can improve body balance, flexibility, and strength.
Reduce risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure.

FURTHER READING

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260211072_A_Study_on_the_Effect_of_Yogic_Intervention_on_Anxiety_among_Youth

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/yoga/art-20044733

https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/a-z/yoga-workouts