Yoga class combines a series of asanas, or poses, in a low-impact form of exercise. Different types of yoga offer variety depending on your goals for the practice. Some forms, like ashtanga and vinyasa, emphasize a fast pace to move through the poses; others, like restorative yoga, emphasize relaxation. Regardless of the yoga type, the exercise offers both physical and mental benefits when practiced regularly.
Weight Control
Yoga is a form of physical activity, which means you burn calories as you move through the asanas. A fast-paced yoga class often helps burn more calories. The increased sense of wellness from yoga helps people make other healthy choices, like eating a healthy diet for even greater weight control.
Disease Management
According to MayoClinic.com, yoga holds the potential to improve some health issues, including chronic pain, cancer, depression, insomnia and anxiety. Exercise like yoga can cause a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure and improve sleep.
Decreased Stress
The focus required for yoga poses pushes the stress from work, financial problems and other daily events out of your mind. Many forms of yoga also incorporate meditation or chanting for further stress reduction. Less stress leads to improved mood for many people. A regular yoga routine can help you deal with regular stress and increase calm feelings throughout the day.
Strength
The poses in yoga require muscular strength to achieve and maintain proper positioning. The poses are held for various lengths of time depending on the type of yoga, and holding the positions increases strength. This creates an overall toned look and strengthens your body for other physical activities.
Balance
Many asanas, like the tree pose, require a greater sense of balance because of the positioning. In the tree pose, you stand on one foot, which makes it more difficult to stand still without swaying. Regular practice increases your overall balance.
Flexibility
Yoga allows you to adjust your positioning of the poses to accommodate your current fitness level. If you are already flexible, you can get deeper into various poses. For those with less flexibility, the moves are smaller but you eventually increase your flexibility to get further into the poses.
Focus
The mind is full of various thoughts, worries and lists of things to do. While practicing yoga, you focus on the task at hand, which is the pose. Focus allows you to get into the proper position and get the most benefit out of it. Over time, that focus might transfer to other areas of life.
Body-Mind Connection
The practice uses muscles to move through the poses but also engages the mind. Yoga allows you to become more aware of your body while relaxing your mind. For many people, yoga results in an overall wellness for both body and mind.
Breathing
Controlled breathing plays a large role in yoga. The idea is that a controlled breath allows more control over the body and mind. The breathing techniques transfer to daily encounters in life. When you face a stressful situation, breathing helps keep your stress and emotions under control.
Posture
The asanas require specific positioning for the greatest benefit and to avoid injury. The increased strength and balance also contributes to an overall improved posture. As you begin to feel stronger, your confidence is likely to increase. A greater sense of confidence also helps you stand taller for better posture.
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