We are huge fans of Yoga and all the ways it helps us live better - from a calmer mind to a healthier body. Here are some of the ways regular Yoga classes can change your life, mind and body.
Your heart health will benefit from Yoga
Regular yoga practice may reduce stress and inflammation throughout your body, which supports a healthier heart.
“A large number of studies show that yoga benefits many aspects of cardiovascular health,” says Hugh Calkins, M.D., director of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Service at Johns Hopkins. “There’s been a major shift in the last five years or so in the number of cardiologists and other professionals recognizing that these benefits are real.”
High blood pressure and excess weight, which can contribute to heart disease, can be also improved through yoga.
Yoga practice builds strength, increases flexibility and improves balance
While doing yoga, the deep breathing will increase blood flow and warm your muscles even while you move slowly, and obviously the effort to hold a yoga pose well will help build up your strength.
Yoga helps reduce stress, increase your energy and help you feel happier
A yoga routine can help us feel more energised but still calm, less tired and less anxious. As well as people experiencing the benefits for thousands of years, now scientific evidence has proven that yoga supports people to take care of themselves through lowering stress, healthy eating, weight loss, better mental health wellness, mindfulness, and better quality sleep.
Yoga can connect you with your community
Joining a local yoga class can connect you with like minded people and provide group support. You may meet people who live near you and enjoy similar things, or just get pleasure from being in a group of welcoming people while you do something good for yourself.
Yoga helps provide relief from back pain
Yoga is as good for most people with lower back pain, as the stretching should both ease pain and improve mobility.
"The American College of Physicians recommends yoga as a first-line treatment for chronic low back pain." - John Hopkins Hospital
Yoga can help ease the symptoms of arthritis
John Hopkins Hospital in the USA reviewed 11 yoga studies and concluded that gentle yoga can ease discomfort caused by the tender, swollen joints of people with arthritis.