Reduces anxiety and stress
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According to a study conducted by Ronald C. Kessler , a sociologist and professor at Harvard Medical School in Massachusetts, the regular practice of yoga reduces anxiety and stress in a similar way to conventional medical therapy (taking anxiolytics).
#2. Increases sleep quality and helps you sleep better
Another study by the Swami Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation showed that people who did yoga took an average of 10 minutes less time to fall asleep , and increased the number of hours they slept by an average of one hour per night. They also reported feeling more rested in the morning. It works just like that given by sleep gurus .
#3. It works better
If your job exhausts you, you don’t like it or you work in a very competitive workplace, yoga can help you get out of the rut without changing jobs. Again, another Indian study that analyzed five indicators of job performance (satisfaction, commitment, results, emotional involvement and social relationships with colleagues) has shown that the benefits of yoga were appreciated by the worker in four of the five points analyzed, only the level of commitment was exempt from its benefits.
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#4. In children and students, it improves academic performance and attention
The attention to breathing and meditation included in the practice of yoga make it possible to achieve a more serene state of mind, removing nerves and stress from the pressure of studying and improving performance. Or what is the same, studying less and learning more and faster. Better an hour of yoga than a sleepless night of coffee to pass an exam, a competition, a job interview, etc.
#5. Strengthens bones and muscles
And without muscle aches! If done progressively and in an adapted manner, yoga prevents lactic acid from accumulating in the body, as well as strengthening the bones, preventing bone loss and increasing joint flexibility . A great natural antidote to osteoporosis, for example.
#6. Increase flexibility
Although at first the postures may seem like those of a contortionist, as you progress in your practice, yoga helps to enhance muscle flexibility. Crossing your legs in the lotus position will be child’s play, and it will serve as a platform for practicing your favorite sport, largely avoiding the risk of injury .
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#7. Helps relieve chronic and postural pain
With a well-adapted practice, yoga is very effective in alleviating most chronic pains such as neck pain, rheumatoid arthritis, knee pain, low back pain, chronic back pain, sciatica or fibromyalgia, among others. Of course, it is essential to have the good guidance of a yogi master to avoid injuries.
#8. It is a magnificent anti-aging therapy
There are recent studies that suggest that yoga and meditation help protect DNA from damage caused by lifestyle or the natural passage of time. It has been shown that regular practice is capable of reducing biological age as it has a direct impact on telomerase, that famous enzyme that is key to protecting telomeres, the ends of chromosomes that shorten with each cell division, and the longer they are, the longer life they predict for us.
#9. Burn calories
A promise that attracts many and has been scientifically proven. Some research has agreed that the practice of Vinyasa Yoga involves an average caloric expenditure of 7 calories per minute, which is equivalent to burning about 507 calories per hour . Ideal as a complement to a weight loss diet or to keep the scales in check.
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#10. Engage in mindful breathing
Yogic breathing, sometimes referred to as abdominal or diaphragmatic breathing, increases the amount of oxygen in cells by starting in the abdomen, moving through the intercostal region, and ending at the clavicle when inhaled. When exhaled, the process is reversed. Furthermore, deep, leisurely breathing lowers heart rate and relaxes muscles. Indeed, it is an ideal method for getting ready for childbirth or for handling any circumstance where discomfort is likely to occur (e.g., a hyaluronic acid lip touch-up).
#11. Reduces cortisol and cholesterol levels in the blood
In other words, it helps to undo the hormonal disruptions that stress creates in the body, raising cortisol levels, since it combines movement and relaxation in one practice and helps to balance the nervous system . The same occurs with cholesterol; there are many studies that support that the regular practice of yoga helps to control blood pressure and the accumulation of fat in the arteries, which alleviates the possibility of suffering a cardiovascular accident (cerebral or coronary infarctions).