The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word “Yuji,” which means union. Yoga is a prehistoric practice that gives your mind and body relaxation. It also helps in reducing stress as its meditating poses encourage relaxation.

You can say goodbye to various problems like inflammation, anxiety, muscle pain, and breathing issues by going to yoga classes regularly. Moreover, professional yoga instructors also help you overcome multiple health conditions. Therefore, hiring the best yoga instructor is essential, and you can find them online or visit their fitness centers in nearby places.

Yoga provides both mental and physical health benefits, but one can get many other benefits from yoga. Following are some evidence-based benefits of yoga that you should know.

Yoga can Reduce stress

Yoga helps in reducing stress and promotes relaxation. Similarly, there are studies available showing that yoga decreases cortisol secretion, a primary stress hormone.  Another survey of 24 emotionally stressed women showed that yoga has a powerful impact on reducing stress.

A three-month yoga program helped those 24 women in lowering their cortisol levels. Similarly, another study on 131 people showed that ten weeks of yoga helped reduce stress and anxiety. Yoga also helps in improving both mental and physical health conditions.

Yoga Minimizes Anxiety Level

Most people perform yoga to minimize their anxiety levels. Moreover, there is research available that shows yoga reduces anxiety levels. A study on 34 women showed that yoga classes twice a week overcome their anxiety disorder.

It shows that people who perform yoga reduce their anxiety levels. Moreover, a study on people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is also available. PTSD is severe anxiety and fear that people face due to traumatic events.

The study showed that women who took yoga classes showed fewer symptoms of PTSD. Moreover, 52% of participants did not even meet the criteria for PTSD. Furthermore, yoga emphasizes the importance of being present and creates a sense of peace, which helps treat anxiety.

Yoga Helps in Reducing Inflammation

Yoga not only improves your health, but studies show that it also reduces inflammation. Inflammation is an immune response, but if chronic inflammation can be dangerous. Chronic inflammation can lead to diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. A study on 218 people who were divided into control group and experimental group showed some impressive results.

The study results showed that people who took yoga classes reduced their levels of inflammation compared to those who did not. Moreover, a 12-week study on people in 2014 showed that yoga was beneficial in reducing the inflammatory markers in survivors of Breast cancer. However, there is a need to extend the study to identify the benefits of yoga in reducing inflammation.

Yoga helps in Improving Heart Conditions

The heart’s health is an essential component to ensure the overall health of the human body as it performs many important tasks. Studies are available in the literature that demonstrates yoga’s importance in improving heart health, from pumping blood throughout the body to supplying tissues containing critical nutrients.

A study on people with 40 years and above age group showed that people participating in yoga activities for five years reduce their blood pressure. Moreover, the study demonstrated that the pulse rate of the people also reduces.

High blood pressure leads to various heart issues like heart attack and stroke. However, through yoga, the blood pressure reduces and helps in reducing the risk of these problems. Many research studies show the importance of incorporating yoga and demonstrate that a healthy lifestyle reduces the progress of heart disease.

Yoga Improves the Quality of Your Life

Yoga is like an adjunct therapy that can improve the quality of our life. A study on 135 seniors assigned six months of yoga or walking showed that yoga improved their lives significantly. Moreover, yoga helped them in reducing fatigue.

Similarly, there are studies available that show yoga improves the quality of life and helps in reducing the symptoms of cancer. A survey of women with breast cancer going through chemotherapy showed that yoga helped her decrease the symptoms of chemotherapy. These symptoms included vomiting and nausea.

Yoga Fights with Depression

Studies are showing that yoga acts as an antidepressant. Moreover, it helps in decreasing the symptoms of depression. The reason is that yoga reduces the level of cortisol, a stress hormone that increases serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is associated with depression, and yoga helps in facilitating that.

A study in which people dependent on alcohol participated. In the study, they were asked to perform Sudarshan kriya. It is a specific type of yoga that focuses on rhythmic breathing. After two weeks of yoga, the participants showed lower levels of depression and cortisol.

Yoga Eliminates Chronic Pain

There are millions of people on earth that get affected by chronic pain. There are many reasons why people face chronic pain that ranges from injuries to arthritis. Various studies are showing that yoga helps in eliminating chronic pain. One study on 42 individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome showed that yoga effectively reduced pain.

Similarly, another study showed that yoga could be beneficial in reducing pain and improving physical functions. However, more investigation is needed to find out how yoga can help people suffer from chronic diseases.

Yoga Helps in Improving sleeping quality

There are many reasons why people face sleeping problems. These problems can be associated with high blood pressure, depression, obesity, and insomnia. There are studies available that show if you include yoga in your daily routine, you can promote better sleep. A survey of patients dealing with lymphoma showed that yoga decreased their sleep disturbance and helped them improve their quality of sleep.

Bottom Line

There are many physical and mental health benefits of yoga that nobody can deny. Moreover, yoga helps us in staying healthy and active throughout the day. Another use of yoga is that people of all age groups can take advantage of it. Therefore, do not wait and get yourself registered in a yoga class.