Yoga has been all the rage for years now, but if you’re still not convinced, science proves its many benefits. Keep reading, you skeptic!
Although usually praised for its ability to relieve stress and promote relaxation, scientists have recently started backing the numerous medical benefits of a regular yoga routine. Deep breathing and moving your body have been shown to help lower cortisol levels: the hormone responsible for stress. In turn, this can also help with depression and anxiety.
For people suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), yoga can help lower fear and anxiety following exposure to a traumatic event.
Still doubtful? Aside from improving your mental health, some studies suggest yoga might reduce inflammation. Chronic inflammation is at the core of many diseases, from autoimmune diseases to cancer and heart disease. Yoga contributes to reducing the physiological markers that cause inflammation and possibly has positive effects in preventing and reducing inflammation.
On the other hand, as yoga is basically a physical activity, it does count towards your daily fitness requirements. This ancient practice keeps your body moving, your heart pumping, and oxygen flowing through your veins, so it has all the benefits of other workouts. This includes helping to prevent heart disease and improve blood flow throughout your body.
As a plus, yoga can easily be tailored to any fitness level. If you’re a beginner or have limited mobility, you can opt for doing yoga sitting down, and if you love a challenge, try hot yoga! There’s something for everyone.
Now that we agree on the benefits of yoga, here’s a handy cheat sheet that you can easily whip out next time you’re in need of a little pick-me-up.