Today I am writing a pitch and it made me realize that not a lot of people know of the surprising benefits that Yoga has to offer. Yoga is not a regular physical activity, like fitness or team sports. It occupies a whole different space in the field of bodily exercise.

So I thought today I will give you the benefits of Yoga, that you might not even know of. So get ready to dulge in!

Let’s start off with the most common and well known level for which Yoga is good for; Your body.

Regular Exercise

To understand the benefits of Yoga, you must understand the working of the body during regular sports. During regular sports we use our bodies intensely. Especially during cardio training we start breathing faster, our heartbeat fastens, and our body temperature rises. This has an impact on our bodies. Our muscles receiving most of the nutrition and energy. This also happens when we are under stress. You can see this as the ‘fight or flight’ response which is set in motion by the Sympathetic Nervous System. The muscles in arms and legs receive more blood, and heat to prepare to run. Adrenaline pumping through our veins. It is our primal reaction to danger.

Your Body as a Vehicle

You can see your body as a vehicle, maybe see it as a car to make it more visible. It is like a car speeding on the highway. By driving this fast, the tires wear down faster, the motor is used intensely, as well as all the other material aspects of the car. We drive faster, but we wear down the vehicle faster as well. The same goes for our body when we use it intensely.

Yoga is very different from regular sports. It was developed with a whole different aim and not to wear down the body but to maintain, better and balance the energy and physical health. In this way we can enjoy our physical bodies longer.

Surprising Physical Benefits

Knowing how our body responds to regular sports we can now look at the benefits of Yoga. We all know that Yoga can increase your flexibility. But that is not all there is too it. There is much more going on when practicing yoga. And it happens not only on a muscular level, it also happens inside our bodies. So what happens? During Asana practice (the practice of Yoga postures):

• our breaths per minute reduce
• our bodily temperature decreases
• internal organs are stimulated and massaged to wake up, slow down or maintain their function
• we transfer from the ‘fight and flight mode’ into the ‘relaxing and growth state’ of the body. This is the Parasympathetic Nervous System. That’s how Yoga practitioners tend to feel relaxed and revitalized after a class.

All these benefits are helping to maintain our bodies. So we can keep using it in a healthy way.

Yoga and the Glands

And that is not all that is there to it. Yoga is also known for the stimulation and balancing out of the endocrine system. The endocrine system consists of the major glands in our body. A gland transfers signals and secretes hormones into the body to have it function properly. There are seven major glands in the body and they are located in almost the same spots as the energy centers in our bodies (chakras). By doing Yoga asanas we stimulate the glands by squeezing out old blood and sending fresh blood in. This we do by inversions, massaging asanas and other ways of bending or stretching the body.

Surprising Emotional Benefits

By balancing our hormones, we can make slight balance changes in our emotions. For example someone who is stressed and does yoga, can balance the stress hormones in the body. By getting back into the Parasympathetic nervous system and by balancing the hormones in the endocrine system. By stimulating the endocrine system from the top to the bottom of the body, we secrete as well toxins. It is therefore even a cleansing practice. Cleansing physically and emotionally. As hormones can very much influence our moods and emotions. There are even special asana classes for women that are having heavy symptoms of PMS, heavy periods or entering menopause. With surprisingly good results.

Surprising Mental Benefits

Last but not least will Yoga help you to ease your mind. If there is too much going on in your mind, you forget to take care of your body. The head gets all the attention and focus. By doing yoga we focus on our breath, on the movement, the postures. We observe, try to let thoughts float by and be in the present moment. It is focusing our senses to one point, just like a moving meditation. Yoga makes you forget your thoughts. It resets, so you can start with renewed energy. As well will it help to make a natural connection between your body and mind. You’ll experience that both are there and necessary to function, but both are equally needed to support you in this life. You’ll be more aware of your body, mind and inner processes that will help you develop on your own path of life.

I am not trying to say that doing regular exercise is not good. It is whatever feels good for you and for your body. Everyone is different, so are everyone’s wants and needs.

I hope you enjoyed reading this post, as I enjoyed writing it as well.

And of course I hope it inspired you to at least try out a class and experience what it does for you.

Have a great day!

 

You might be interested in the following posts as well:

10 Secrets to a Joyful and Healthy Morning Routine

Sunny Days, Joyful People ~ How the Sun can influence our Mood

© 2018 Nagabandhu Yoga and Living Practice – All Rights Reserved
No portion of this site can be reprinted without express permission