Beyond the obvious, yoga has many amazing benefits for those who make it a part of their lives.
Check out these 5 unexpected benefits of practicing yoga and consider adding it to your fitness routine:
Tone those muscles
Yoga is not only a great way to tone and build small and large muscle, but it is also efficient. Most yoga poses engage the full body by using your own bodyweight. When practicing yoga, you are using resistance to induce muscular contraction, building strength and muscle. Yoga both strengthens and lengthens your muscles giving them a lean and elongated look.
Boost your energy
The energy you put into committing to that yoga practice will pay off in dividends. Yoga is a natural energy booster, as not only does it foster mental alertness, but it also gives you physical energy. Yoga poses, like back bends extend your spine to open and stretch tight chest muscles allowing you to breathe more freely and to fill your lungs. So much for ‘Namaste in bed!’
Speed up your metabolism
Whenever someone credits their 'fast metabolism' for their physique it can be hard to believe. But hey, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! Yoga is a great way to increase metabolism, improving digestion and circulation. Yoga poses that focus on the core help your organs function properly, not to mention that the deep and slow breathing in yoga practice can improve circulation, allowing arteries to open up and release pressure. When your circulation system is functioning, so does your metabolism.
Don’t stress
Yoga does amazing things for stress management, helping relax the body and mind. Poses like Child’s Pose help soothe the adrenal glands, creating internal and external calm. Yoga’s focus on breathing can do amazing things for stress management. Stress often makes us breathe rapidly and unevenly which, in turn, leads to even more anxiety. Using the diaphragm and full lung-capacity is a simple way to breathe more effectively and reduce stress!
Last but not least…sleep
Studies have shown a strong link between yoga, mindfulness and the ability to rest and sleep. Significant improvement in sleep quality have been found for those who practice meditative yoga. Whether you try a class or perform some relaxing poses, like the knees to chest pose or the reclined spinal twist pose, getting a few extra zzz’s is a welcome side effect of yoga practice.