What are the Health Benefits of Yoga?

Western culture has become quite talented at taking unadulterated practices, products, and doctrines and finding ways for them to fit into its instantaneous capitalist agenda. As such, practices such as mindfulness, meditation, and yoga have become fads that focus on how they can assist you in losing weight, developing a voluptuous booty, getting a nice set of washboard abs, or decreasing your mental blockages so that you can make more money with your business. I do not intend to demonize such things, however, it appears to me that even with such goals as motivational tools we remain focused on the surface level of gratification and fulfillment.

When it comes to yoga, scientists have conducted many a study that reflect the powerful healing effects — both physical and mental — that come with practicing the ancient form of “meditation in motion.” Yet, the health benefits of yoga reach far beyond the reaches of body and mind, and the spiritual aspect often gets overlooked in the wake of our superficial scope of vision.

In this article, we will examine the myriad of physical, mental and spiritual health benefits that yoga propagates, and why yoga is a practice that you should consider implementing in your daily regimen.

Different Forms of Yoga

Before we begin discussing the multitude of benefits that come with yoga, it is important to remember that there are many different types of yoga that usher in different results and levels of awareness. While there are more than 100 types of yoga in existence, some forms of yoga include, but are not limited to:

• Hatha: One of the most commonly known forms of yoga, it combines basic movements with breathing exercises.
• Vinyasa: This form focuses on a series of poses that flow into one another. It cultivates Qi, or the ‘life force.’
• Power: A faster, more intense practice that focuses on building muscle strength and flexibility.
• Ashtanga: Similar to Vinyasa, this practice uses a series of poses that flow into each other while practicing a unique, deep-breathing exercise.
• Bikram: More commonly known as “hot yoga,” this form involves 26 rigorous poses whilst in a room with high temperatures.
• Iyengar: This form of yoga utilizes props such as chairs, blocks, straps, and ergonomic mats to assist one in moving their body into proper alignment.

Keep in mind, these are but a handful of the plethora of yoga practices that exist, and each of them uphold different focuses which are beneficial in many different ways to the human body, psyche, and spirit.

Physical Benefits

Since our bodies are our vessels for the living, feeling and contemplating, let’s begin with the physical aspects of yoga that will inherently invigorate your body and increase your vitality. Researchers of western medicine have begun to conduct studies that reveal that yoga proliferates a number of health benefits such as:

• Improved flexibility
• Increased muscle strength
• Improved posture
• Strengthens cartilage and joints
• Increased spinal durability and flexibility
• Improved bone health
• Improved respiration
• Increased energy levels
• Increased vitality and fertility
• Promotes mindful eating
• Weight loss
• Protects against petty injuries

In considering these health benefits, it is somewhat difficult to deny the validity of yoga’s vast repertoire of physical healing qualities. However, from our bodies, we can dive even deeper into the human experience and investigate the mental and emotional health benefits that come from incorporating yoga into your routine.

Mental & Emotional Benefits

Along with the copious benefits that yoga has on the physical body, it also has numerous positive effects on mental and emotional health. The releasing of endorphins allows for heightened serotonin production—the neurotransmitter responsible for pleasant moods and the feeling of ‘happiness’ — and as such, yoga works wonders for those who struggle from psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

The combination of meditation and deliberate movement has proven a very safe space and environment for people’s conditions and worries rise to the surface and be released without judgment or scrutiny and thus, is a wonderful healing tool that gives the power back to the afflicted instead of taking it away with prescription drugs or the belief that they are weak without faith.

Spiritual Benefits

Though yoga is often associated with eastern philosophies and doctrines and is indeed derived of such philosophies, it is actually a sacred space where people of all faiths and creeds can get in touch with ‘Source,’ ‘God,’ Yahweh’ or any other name it might be called.

Despite yoga’s physical focus with motion and movement, it is within the deliberation of the movements that allow for a quieting of the mind to wash over the practitioner. This stillness and silence is the fertile space that allows for the further cultivation of greater self-awareness and a deeper understanding of one’s own flow and conjuration of Qi.

To be healthy spiritually is to be in healthy communion with oneself. To accept oneself as they are in this very moment and to find delight in the progress instead of striving for the overtly western illusion of perfection. Yoga is a garden that bears great fruits within this realm of thought and consideration.

So, Why Shouldn’t You Do Yoga?

At the end of the day, it shouldn’t be a deeply hidden conspiracy that yoga is a very healthy practice to implement into one’s life. In fact, I think that it takes an even greater effort to stay stuck in unhealthy patterns than it does to simply let go and jump into new things that propagate greater healing. However, just because yoga has its many health benefits does not mean it is necessary for you and something that will bring greater fulfillment to your life.

We all have different passions, perceptions, preferences, interests, and backgrounds that influence us differently and affect the way we experience life. So, if you end up giving yoga a try and decide it isn’t for you, that is alright. But at least you can say that you gave it a shot and are looking forward in terms of keeping your body, mind, and soul healthy.