Yoga For Benefits | Yoga Health Benefits
The health benefits of yoga include control of diabetes, control of hypertension, a stronger heart, reduced back pain, relief from osteoarthritis, improvement in gastric conditions, control of asthma and bronchitis, and weight loss in a healthy way. Yoga is a proven science that traces its origin back thousands of years and is comprised of theories and observations, which have been proven by modern science.
About Yoga
Yoga is considered the first step in spirituality. The word yoga means “union” or “being united” with the Divine Spirit. According to Patanjali, the father of yoga, it is a way through which the control of the material world over the human spirit can be eliminated. Yoga is meant to bring inner peace and equilibrium, apart from the chaotic world outside. It is a practice involving both the mind and body and is used to achieve improved health and relaxation.
Research is currently being done to analyze the health benefits of yoga postures and Pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation.
Patanjali describes yoga as possessing ‘Ashtaangas’ or eight limbs.
The first limb, or the anga, is about ethics and morality. The practitioner should conduct their daily routines in the most ethical way possible.
Research is currently being done to analyze the health benefits of yoga postures and Pranayama (breathing techniques) and meditation.
Patanjali describes yoga as possessing ‘Ashtaangas’ or eight limbs.
The first limb, or the anga, is about ethics and morality. The practitioner should conduct their daily routines in the most ethical way possible.
The second limb is about observances. The practitioner must make sure one’s body and mind are not polluted after purification. This part is mostly about the worldly influences on the human mind and body.
Having realized the first two steps, the third step is about ‘asana’ or physical postures. These asanas increase the strength, endurance, and resistance to various diseases, thus empowering the body, mind, and soul.
Pranayama, the fourth limb, is regarded as the most important step in yoga. ‘Prana’ is the life force and ‘ayama’ is extension. Pranayama means the “extension of breath”. Sages in ancient times found that oscillatory breathing has a good influence on the mind.
The fifth limb is called pratyahara, which is the process of withdrawing the senses. Our sensory organs are fueled by the world around us, which can lead to suffering and pain.
Concentration, or dharna, is the sixth limb and is one of the hardest steps. Yoga experts and gurus suggest concentration on breathing can help in holding focus in one direction.
Meditation, the seventh limb, can be different from concentration. In concentration, one has to focus on something, while in meditation, the focus is not on any object or thought.
The eighth and final limb is Samadhi. This is the final step of the practitioner. The practitioner enters a state of tranquility where he seems to be in deep sleep, but is actually fully awake and aware of his surroundings. It is believed that he has united with the divine spirit.
According to Patanjali, physical yoga facilitates the more complex meditation and spiritual perfection. It is believed that a true yoga practitioner can achieve a state of thoughtlessness in their mind.
As per the National Health Interview Survey in 2007, yoga is among the top complementary health practices used in the USA.
Yoga Health Benefits
Daily yoga practice can bring in a number of benefits to practitioners. Yoga not only helps control diseases but also plays an important role in achieving relaxation and physical fitness.
Relieves Back Pain
Yoga may benefit individuals with lower back pain as well. Some yoga poses or postures, such as mountain pose, pigeon pose, wall plank pose, back traction, and child’s posture, can provide relief from lower back pain.
Weight Loss
Surya Namaskara is considered to be beneficial for weight loss. Pada hasthasana and trikonasana can also be helpful in losing weight.
Yoga during Pregnancy
Yoga is beneficial during pregnancy as well. Researchers in the UK studied the effects of yoga on pregnant women and found that it can reduce the risk of them developing anxiety and depression.
Increases Flexibility
There are specific yoga postures that positively affect various joints and stress points of the body. Yoga enhances lubrication of these joints, ligaments, and tendons, making them flexible and functional.
Controls Diabetes
Regular yoga practice can also help in controlling diabetes. Some of the postures that can aid in controlling diabetes include pavanamuktasana, ardhamatsyendrasana, gomukhasana, koormasana, bhujangasana, dhanurasana, and mayurasana. Apart from these postures, pranayama exercises such as suryabhedi, ujjayi, and bhastrika have also been prescribed for diabetes. Controlled tests on diabetic patients resulted in improved diabetic conditions for the majority of people who had undergone some sort of yoga training.
Reduces Depression
BKS Iyengar’s yoga has yogic postures for eliminating stress from the body and mind. Yogic postures such as corpse posture, child’s posture, forward-bending posture, legs up the wall, cat’s posture, back-bending, and headstand are considered good for eliminating depression and stress. Tests have shown positive feedback for yoga’s impact on depression and stress because participants reported a marked decrease in depression levels.
Cures Stomach Disorders
Gastric troubles can be relieved by practicing yoga. Certain asanas, or postures such as pavanamuktasana, padahastasana, and padangusthasana help in controlling gastric troubles, tone up abdominal muscles, increase gastric juices, and improve digestion. These postures are simple forward-bending postures where one has to touch one’s feet without bending the knees and take it forward to an extent that the palms must come under his or her feet with ease. This can help you get relief from a wide variety of gastrointestinal issues.
Surya Namaskara
Surya namaskara, also known as sun salutation, is a series of 6 yoga exercises that is composed of rapid movements. It is an effective technique that acts to tone up muscles, speeding up and intensifying the respiration and cardiac rhythm. At the same time, it keeps away the body from building up lactic acid in the muscles, which results in fatigue and pain. This also facilitates optimum oxygen supply to the lungs and the entire body. Regular practice of this technique strengthens and flexes the muscles around the neck, shoulder, arms, wrists, thighs, calves, and ankles. It also increases lung capacity, stamina, and cardiac development. Surya namaskara controls diseases such as hypertension, palpitation, backaches, insomnia, memory improvement, and compression in the abdominal region. It also provides relief from constipation, dyspepsia, and thyroid problems.
Treats Osteoarthritis
Yoga works well in controlling musculoskeletal pain as well, especially osteoarthritis. The efficacy of yoga on osteoarthritis was studied in people suffering from osteoarthritis in hands. The tests showed that practicing yoga is effective in providing relief from hand osteoarthritis.
