Yoga Benefits: Transform Body & Mind
The most important benefits of yogais physical and mental therapy. The aging process, which is largely an artificial condition caused mainly by auto-intoxication or self-poisoning, can be slowed down by practicing yoga. By keeping the body clean, flexible, and well-lubricated, we can significantly reduce the catabolic process of cell deterioration. To fully experience the yoga benefits, one must combine the practices of yogasanas, pranayama, and meditation. Embracing these practices ensures that you reap all the yoga benefits for both body and mind, optimizing your overall well-being.
Regular practice of asanas, pranayama, and meditation can help address diverse ailments such as diabetes, blood pressure issues, digestive disorders, arthritis, arteriosclerosis, chronic fatigue, asthma, varicose veins, and heart conditions. The yoga benefits extend to laboratory-proven improvements in a yogi’s ability to consciously control autonomic or involuntary functions, such as temperature, heartbeat, and blood pressure.
Research into the effects of yogic practices on HIV is currently underway with promising results. Through the practice of yoga, we become aware of the interconnectedness between our emotional, mental, and physical levels, revealing significant yoga benefits. Gradually, this awareness leads to an understanding of the more subtle areas of existence, showcasing the profound yoga benefits. The ultimate goal of yoga is to make it possible for you to fuse together the gross material (annamaya), physical (pranamaya), mental (manomaya), intellectual (vijnanamaya), and spiritual (anandamaya) levels within your being, demonstrating the comprehensive yoga benefits and the overall yoga benefits for holistic well-being. Explore these benefits further with our online yoga classes.
Physiological Benefits of Yoga
- Stable autonomic nervous system equilibrium
- Pulse rate decreases
- Respiratory rate decreases
- Blood Pressure decreases (of special significance for hypo reactors)
- Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) increases
- EEG – alpha waves increase (theta, delta, and beta waves also increase during various stages of meditation)
- EMG activity decreases
- Cardiovascular efficiency increases
- Respiratory efficiency increases
- Gastrointestinal function normalizes
- Endocrine function normalizes
- Excretory functions improve
- Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase
- Breath-holding time increases
- Joint range of motion increase
- Grip strength increases
- Eye-hand coordination improves
- Dexterity skills improve
- Reaction time improves
- Posture improves
- Strength and resiliency increase
- Endurance increases
- Energy level increases
- Weight normalizes
- Sleep improves
- Immunity increases
- Pain decreases
- Steadiness improves
- Depth perception improves
- Balance improves
- Integrated functioning of body parts improves
Psychological Yoga Benefits
- Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase
- Mood improves and subjective well-being increases
- Self-acceptance and self-actualization increase
- Social adjustment increases
- Anxiety and Depression decrease
- Hostility decreases
- Concentration improves
- Memory improves
- Attention improves
- Learning efficiency improves
- Mood improves
- Self-actualization increase
- Social skills increases
- Well-being increases
- Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase
- Self-acceptance increase
- Attention improves
- Concentration improves
- Memory improves
- Learning efficiency improves
- Symbol coding improves
- Depth perception improves
- Flicker fusion frequency improves
Biochemical Yoga Benefits
Glucose decreases
Sodium decreases
Total cholesterol decreases
Triglycerides decrease
HDL cholesterol increases
LDL cholesterol decreases
VLDL cholesterol decreases
Cholinesterase increases
Catecholamines decrease
ATPase increases
Hematocrit increases
Hemoglobin increases
Lymphocyte count increases
Total white blood cell count decreases
Thyroxin increases
Vitamin C increases
Total serum protein increases
Yoga Health Benefits versus Exercise Benefits
Yoga Benefits
- Parasympathetic Nervous dominates
- Sub cortical regions of brain dominate
- Slow dynamic and static movements
- Normalization of muscle tone
- Low risk of injuring muscles and ligaments
- Low caloric consumption
- Effort is minimized, relaxed
- Energizing (breathing is natural or controlled)
- Balanced activity of opposing muscle groups
- Noncompetitive, process-oriented
- Awareness is internal (focus is on breath and the infinite)
- Limitless possibilities for growth in self-awareness
- Exercise Benefits
- Sympathetic Nervous System dominates
- Cortical regions of brain dominate
- Rapid forceful movements
- Increased muscle tension
- Higher risk of injury
- Moderate to high caloric consumption
- Effort is maximized
- Fatiguing (breathing is taxed)
- Imbalance activity of opposing groups
- Competitive, goal-oriented
- Awareness is external (focus is on reaching the toes, reaching the finish line, etc.)
- Boredom factor