What yoga can do for you
Whether you’ve done some yoga classes before or you’ve been thinking of trying it, yoga has a lot of benefits. Even if you have never practiced yoga, you may be familiar with certain poses like “downward dog”. Each pose is intentional and works on different areas of your body.
Yoga helps with both mental and physical health and can help with many health conditions, including stress. Here are a few things you can gain from practicing yoga.
Yoga Can Help Develop Your Strength & Balance
Yoga is often associated with flexibility but it can also build up strength. Holding a yoga pose warms up muscles and strengthens as well as tones.
Several studies have demonstrated that yoga can strengthen seniors, children, and people with breast cancer. A study done by the U.S. Air Force found that every age group can gain strength from practicing yoga.
Balance is essential for everyday movement. After consistently practicing yoga, balance can improve. Athletes will practice yoga to enhance balance and overall performance.
Seniors greatly benefit from practicing yoga because the improvement in balance helps prevent falls as they get older.
Yoga Can Aid Back Pain
Because yoga involves stretching poses like the Feline Cow Posture or Warrior II, it can help with lower back pain. The isometric contractions used with these poses can help reduce pain and strengthen bone mass.
One study showed that just 12 minutes of yoga a day significantly improved bone health.
If you have inflammation, turmeric coupled with yoga can help. Turmeric can be as potent as NSAIDs in reducing inflammation. Turmeric Tonic is an easily digestible way to consume turmeric in your favorite beverage.
Yoga Might Make Your Heart Healthier
Pranayama, the type of breathing in yoga, might benefit the cardiovascular system. A study review published in the Journal of Ayurvedic and Integrative Medicine showed that after reviewing over 1,000 studies, researchers found that pranayama improved the function of several internal systems.
Yoga Improves Mental Health
Movement or exercise is effective in relieving stress. It lowers blood sugar and blood pressure and gives you a greater sense of well-being. Yoga is no exception.
The movements and breathing in yoga can actually help with the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorder Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Symptoms of depression are improved by practicing yoga.
Yoga Helps You Sleep Better
Insomnia is a common problem, especially for individuals under stress. Insomnia affects your ability to fall asleep or stay asleep. Yoga helps to relieve stress, calm the mind and relax the body.
Yoga can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Research has noted that mind-body therapies like yoga help relieve the symptoms of insomnia.
Yoga Can Relieve Stress
Because yoga helps facilitate physical and mental relaxation, it also helps reduce stress and anxiety. Yoga poses help your tense muscles work out the knots releasing physical and emotional tension. Like any other form of activity, yoga also helps release endorphins which affect how you deal with stress.
Yoga helps you stay in the moment, boosting concentration and awareness. Yoga can also help ease stress when you are suffering from burnout.
To get an extra boost from your yoga routine, drink a cup of Norfolk Punch-Cranberry. Its natural ingredients help relieve tension and boost your mood.
Incorporating Yoga Into Your Lifestyle
Yoga is relatively easy to fit into a busy lifestyle. You can practice yoga sets that start at 10 minutes and go up to an hour. You can find yoga classes in your community, or at home online via YouTube and other health channels.
A retreat can be an excellent option if you are feeling stressed or experiencing burnout. At Rest & Restore, you can relax and find peace in a natural environment.
Research has proven that being out in nature:
● reduces stress hormones
● lowers blood pressure
● reduces anxiety
● Boosts the immune system
● Improves mood
We have yoga at both of our retreats as well to help you unwind. We have two stunning locations in the heart of the Yarra Valley.
Our experienced and certified yoga instructors will help you release tension with a yoga routine specific to stress. You will feel relaxed and renewed and can begin to experience the benefits yoga has to offer.
At Rest and Restore you will be in a nurturing environment where you can enjoy tea, read a book, or go on a walk. Our programs are designed to relieve stress and help you get away from a stressful, busy lifestyle.
Our retreats are only one hour from Melbourne. Whether you want to come for the day, a weekend, or 4 nights, Rest & Restore can help you feel like yourself again. Combat stress and burnout by booking a call today.
Studies Referenced
Strength
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6451238/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4278134/
Bone Mass
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4851231/
Heart Health
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0975947617303224
Depression
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28296480/
Sleep
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6393899/