Yoga asanas, or yoga poses, constitute the physical practice of yoga. In the Western world, the poses are the main focus of a yoga practice, but in reality, they are only one of eight aspects, with the others focusing on the breath, meditation and realization of the self. While the practice in its entirety provides the most advantage, the poses alone do offer many benefits and are worth pursuing.
Lean Muscle
A physical yoga practice is a form of strength training that uses your body weight as resistance. You build lean muscle mass throughout your entire body, which in turn helps to increase your metabolism and burn calories and fat. Additionally, a 60- or 90-minute practice requires quite a bit of energy exertion, and according to Harvard University, can burn approximately 350 calories in one hour, depending on your height and weight. Standing poses, arm balances, backbends and inversions require the most energy and build the greatest amount of muscle.
Elastic Muscles
The yoga asanas will help that lean muscle mass that you just built to be flexible and elastic. Along with being uncomfortable, it is easier to pull or tear a muscle when it is tight. Additionally, stiff muscles can make it so that you put undue stress on surrounding muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons, which can pull your body out of balance and cause further injuries. Many of the yoga asanas will help to elongate and increase the flexibility and elasticity of your muscles, as they are being stretched while also being strengthened. Poses that are particularly good for this are Downward Facing Dog, Low Lunge, Triangle pose and Wide Legged Forward Bend.
Medical Benefits
For every external move, there is an internal benefit when practicing yoga poses. As such, it can be advantageous to perform asanas in order to improve or maintain your health. Practicing yoga helps to reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. The asanas can help your metabolic and digestive systems to work more effectively while de-toxing and improving the function of your major organs.
Be in the Present
One of the main points of practicing yoga asanas is to practice mindfulness by linking your breath to your movement. Connecting the mind with the body adds a mental and spiritual level to the physicality of the yoga poses, which in turn helps you to be fully present and in the moment. Focusing on your breath as you move your body can help you to push all of those busy thoughts out of your mind and focus on right now.
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