5 Benefits of Yoga

2020 has been a really hard year for most of us with so many restrictions on where we can go, who we can see and how we work. Although being stuck at home as meant that people have struggled over the last months there have been some positives to come out of spending more time at home like working on self improvement, finding new hobbies and discovering new ways to keep fit.

One of those new ways to keep fit has been yoga. Although we haven’t always been able to meet in person to practice there have been innovations which have meant yoga can still take place, for example, the University of Bedfordshire’s Get Active team are celebrating a 94% uptake of their online yoga offering since lockdown began! Yoga isn’t only good for physical health but mental health too and it’s a great activity to share with your family to teach your children mindfulness.

Yoga is really easy to get into. You don’t really need much to get started; some comfortable clothes which you can move in, a good quality yoga mat to protect you from the hard floor, a water bottle and maybe a towel for when you work up a sweat!

If you’re interested but need a little more of a nudge to get you started, check out these 5 great benefits to practicing yoga which make it the perfect lockdown activity.

Reduces Stress

Yoga is known for its ability to ease stress and promote relaxation; multiple studies have shown that it can decrease the secretion of cortisol, the primary stress hormone. When used alone or along with other methods of alleviating stress, such as meditation, yoga can be a powerful way to keep stress in check. You can even use meditation as part of a relaxation technique when travelling – when we are allowed again!

Improves Flexibility and Balance

There is considerable research that shows adding yoga to a fitness routine improves flexibility and balance. A recent study looked at the impact of 10 weeks of yoga on 26 male college athletes. Doing yoga significantly increased several measures of flexibility and balance, compared to the control group. Practicing just 15–30 minutes of yoga each day could make a big difference for those looking to enhance performance by increasing flexibility and balance. If you are worried about keeping in shape over winter and not wanting to get cold outside then indoor yoga might be the answer.

May Reduce Inflammation

Some studies suggest that practicing yoga may reduce inflammation. Inflammation is a normal immune response, but chronic inflammation can contribute to the development of pro-inflammatory diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Although more research is needed to confirm the beneficial effects of yoga on inflammation, these findings indicate that it may help protect against certain diseases caused by chronic inflammation. As someone who lives with de Quervain’s tenosynovitis which involves inflammation of the thumb tendon, I find this benefit most interesting.

Heart Health

Studies show that yoga may help improve heart health and reduce several risk factors for heart disease. One study found that participants over 40 years of age who practiced yoga for five years had lower blood pressure and pulse rate than those who didn’t. It’s unclear how much of a role yoga may have had versus other factors like diet. Yet it can minimize stress, one of the major contributors to heart disease

Improves Quality of Life

Yoga is becoming increasingly common as an adjunct therapy to improve quality of life for many individuals. In one study, 135 seniors were assigned to either six months of yoga, walking or a control group. Practicing yoga significantly improved quality of life, as well as mood and fatigue, compared to the other groups. Other studies have found that yoga may help improve sleep quality, enhance spiritual well-being, improve social function and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with cancer. I personally have found that taking some time out to meditate at the end of the day really makes me feel calmer and better prepared to face the next day.

Have you considered taking up Yoga?