Physical benefits of yoga

According to Yoga Journal many researchers are now accepting that yoga can improve many different health conditions and generally improve your lifestyle. The physical benefits and gentle nature of yoga make it great for almost everyone, no matter what your age or fitness level.

Improved posture, flexibility and muscle strength

First and foremost, yoga loosens your muscles and improves flexibility in both your muscles and connective tissue, while also building your strength as you balance in poses that work your muscles. The combination of strength and flexibility leads to an improvement in your posture and can alleviate joint pain and other general aches that you suffer from as a result of poor posture in your everyday life.

Prevents breakdown of cartilage

Yoga utilizes the full range of motion of your joints, which can help prevent degenerative arthritis and improve movement. The cartilage in your joints and spinal disks are shock absorbers that act like a sponge – only taking in fresh nutrients after fluid is forced or "squeezed" out. If you neglect certain areas, your cartilage can start to become less supple and eventually wear out.

Increased blood flow and lymphatic drainage

Yoga relaxation exercises improve your circulation, which in turn provides more oxygen to your cells and tissues. The twisting and inverted poses are particularly good at moving venous blood from internal organs and improving your lymphatic drainage, which helps your body fight infection and dispose of waste products.

Mind benefits of yoga

Yoga has recently been found to provide therapeutic relief for sufferers of anxiety and may help regulate fluctuating mood patterns and anxiety attacks. Hatha yoga can be particularly helpful, as it works to remind you to release emotions and feelings that have a negative effect on our mental health.

Meanwhile, pranayama yoga encourages you to really focus on your breathing, which can help you relax, meditate and connect with your respiratory system. Yoga has been proven to improve the symptoms of depression and provide a significant increase in your serotonin levels while decreasing your stress hormone, cortisol.

According to Yoga Journal, practicing yoga can also help you focus, solve problems and remember information, while also improving your coordination and reaction times. This is thought to be because yoga helps you regain control of your thoughts, preventing negative or anxious thoughts from dominating your thought process and allowing you to concentrate better.