Yoga has many benefits and is a popular choice of exercise all across the world.
Whether you’re a yoga newbie or a seasoned pro, you might be interested in the benefits that yoga can provide for both body and mind.
1. You Can Do Yoga Anywhere
One of the best things about yoga is that you can do it pretty much anywhere.
In your bedroom, in your living room, in the garden, on the beach, in the woods, at the park.
Once you’re comfortable with the yoga stretches you want to do each day, the world is your oyster as to where you do them!
Of course, you do need to be mindful of other people, but as yoga is a fairly peaceful activity it’s unlike you’ll cause any issues.
Many people like to do yoga early in the morning before anyone else is around as the peace and quiet aids the relaxation that doing yoga can bring.
2. Yoga Is Free
You’ll be pleased to know there a zero costs when it comes to starting yoga.
You can look up YouTube videos for free to learn what you need to do.
You can choose to attend a class if you want to, but as there is no special equipment needed, you can also do yoga from home for free.
3. Yoga Is Suitable For Most People
As yoga is a gentle way to exercise, it is suitable for most people, even if they have an injury of disability.
You can take up yoga at any age, with any body size and with any level of fitness. While it may take time to build up flexibility, pretty much anyone can give it a try.
4. Kids Can Do Yoga
Yoga isn’t just for adults, kids can join in too!
My daughter often does Yoga at school and we sometimes do yoga at home as well.
Our favourite kids-themed YouTube Channel is Cosmic Kids Yoga which has loads of videos themed around superheroes, Disney Characters and fun songs.
5. Yoga Equipment Is Cheap
If you did want to invest in some equipment to help with your yoga practice, there isn’t really much you need other than a good yoga mat and maybe some good yoga leggings, both of which can be purchased relatively cheaply.
6. Benefits Of Yoga: It Improves Strength & Flexibility
With time and regular practice, yoga is a brilliant way to build up strength and flexibilty in your body.
Yoga can improve your flexibility by up to 35% in as little as eight weeks.
7. Yoga Can Help With Back Problems
Yoga has been proven to help those with ongoing back problems or back pain.
Different yoga poses and stretches can help pain in both the upper and lower back.
If you suffer from back pain and want to use yoga to help, it might be worth attending a class to help ensure you get each stretch right and don’t unintentionally cause more damage.
8. Yoga Can Be Relaxing
Yoga is a low-impact sport which many people find relaxing and it can help to improve your mental health.
According to Havard Health
It can affect mood by elevating levels of a brain chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is associated with better mood and decreased anxiety. Meditation also reduces activity in the limbic system — the part of the brain dedicated to emotions
9. Yoga Can Help Alleviate Stress
Yoga can help alleviate stress by doing the following three things that help your body and mind:
- Allowing you to slow down
- Focus your breathing
- Clear your mind
10. Yoga Can Help You Sleep Better
As with most forms of exercise, yoga can help to sleep better.
This could be because it helps to improve aches and pains, give you an overall improved mental state or it helps to destress you after a busy day.