Yoga has gained a lot of importance in today’s world. Yoga helps the mind to relax for some time from the chaos of our daily routine. The general understanding of yoga is that it makes our body more flexible, due to which a lot of people who have stiffer bodies tend to stay away from it as they feel pain in their muscles while practicing yoga. In reality, Yoga benefits beyond the mat will blow you away!
It works at a much deeper level than most of us understand. It has many benefits which are experienced with time as you practice yoga regularly. Yoga provides physical and mental benefits. Some of the benefits even extend to our daily lives
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Yoga Benefits Beyond the Mat
Improves Flexibility
As stated above, the first and most obvious benefit of yoga is that it improves flexibility. People with stiff body muscles often find it difficult to practice yoga at first. But as the practice is continued, it becomes easier as there is a loosening of the muscles. This will also lead to lesser pains and aches.
Yoga helps to develop inner awareness. It is not about physical appearance. It helps a person to focus on his/her abilities at present. If you have ever been to a yoga class, you must have noticed that yoga studios don’t have mirrors. This is to allow yourself to focus on your inner self rather than physical appearance. In this way, yoga helps an individual to become more satisfies and less critical of his/her body.
Builds Muscle Strength
Yoga helps you build muscles which are not only good in appearance but also have health benefits. They prevent a person from arthritis and back pain which are very common in elderly people. It’s one of the yoga benefits beyond the mat that gym-goers must know about.
Posture
Poor posture can cause back and neck pain and other muscles and joints problems. It is important that our back and neck muscles are in the right condition to support it. If your head is placed erect over the spine, it takes less effort of the neck and spine to support it. Yoga elicits a better posture to eliminate the strain in muscles associated with a poor posture.
Mindful eating is described by the researchers as a non-judgmental awareness of the physical and emotional sensations associated with eating. People who practice yoga are more mindful eaters than those who don’t. yoga helps you to be more aware of how your body feels. You become more sensitive to hunger pangs or overeating. The body becomes more tuned and develops a positive relationship with eating.
Cardiovascular Benefits
A lot of people are at risk of heart disease these days due to an unhealthy lifestyle. Practicing yoga has a lot of cardiovascular benefits such as lowering blood pressure, increasing blood flow and improving heart rate. Increasing blood flow reduces the formation of blood clots. Therefore, yoga helps to decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke as these are the result of the formation of blood clots. Yoga indeed is a boon for a healthy heart. One of the most important Yoga benefits beyond the mat for heart patients.
People who practice yoga gain less weight and who are overweight lose weight. This is because yoga makes a person a mindful eater which makes you more in tune with your body. Obesity is also a reason for most of the health problems. Also by maintaining your weight, it helps to keep your body healthy.
Eases Body Pains
Practicing yoga can ease your body pains associated with arthritis, back pain, etc. If there is less pain, you will have a good mood and hence you will be more active. This will result in a lesser intake of medications.
A good night’s rest is very difficult to achieve these days due to the stress of our daily lives. Regular yoga practice will lead to less stress in your mind and lesser tiredness. This will make you feel more refreshed and achieve success more easily.
Helps You Focus
Regular practice of yoga improves coordination. Memory and IQ. It helps a person to focus on the present. Such people are less distracted by their thoughts. So, if there is any problem, in your life, you’ll be able to solve it more easily by focusing on it.
Yoga Benefits Beyond the Mat – Conclusion
There are not only physical benefits but many Yoga benefits beyond the mat. It is not only a complete body workout but a complete mental workout as well. It transforms your body such that it is capable of living into the world and face the situations more courageously. A person who practices yoga regularly will always be successful in life as he/she will be physically and mentally fit. So, practicing yoga is a good way of leading a good life.
Yes, it is true, that from yoga we learn many things in life. Composture, calmness, and serenity can be achieved. And we also attain a certain kind of peace which is priceless.