According to the 2008 "Yoga in America" market study, the yoga industry generates nearly $6 billion dollars per year in the United States. This is nearly double the amount recorded in the 2004 study. These numbers show a marked upward trend in the growth and popularity of yoga practice in the U.S. The many benefits of yoga are one of the driving forces behind this trend.
Fitness
Practicing yoga can help you to see improvements in several of the core areas of fitness. Students often experience increased flexibility, range of motion, balance and muscular strength. Flexibility and range of motion improvements may be of particular benefit to athletes for the purpose of injury prevention. The same is true for older adults with health problems that compromise their balance, making them more susceptible to falls and injury.
Disease Prevention and Management
While yoga cannot cure any disease in particular, it can help you manage existing chronic health problems or prevent future ones. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, yoga practice can help lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, improve circulation, improve digestive functioning, and relieve chest and back pain.
Mental and Emotional Health
Not only does yoga have a positive impact on the body, but it's also good for emotional health. According to the Mayo Clinic, practicing yoga may help you manage stress, improve sleep and decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety. One study cited by the University of Maryland Medical Center noted a particular benefit in cancer patients involving the mind-body connection. These patients saw improvements in immune function and reductions in stress levels when yoga was used in combination with traditional cancer treatments.
Social Benefits
While you can enjoy yoga alone in the privacy of your home, but it may also be beneficial to practice it in a class setting. Doing so could allow you to enjoy social benefits, such as meeting others with whom you share a common interest. Further, exercising in a group setting provides an opportunity to be accountable to others if you stop attending. This accountability can help motivate you to stick to your fitness goals through the regular practice of yoga.
Broadened Cultural Understanding
Yoga instruction often involves much more than guidance on postures and breathing. Many instructors expose students to the history, language and principles that surround this ancient cultural practice that is steeped in the traditions of India. Yoga's earliest recorded history begins with the "The Vedas" -- 3,000 year old Sanskrit texts. Exposure to a practice this rich can help to broaden your cultural understanding.
Member Comments