10 Facts About Yoga for Self Improvement

Yoga has gained popularity over the past decade or so, and for good reason. Try it a few times and you’ll quickly notice an overall feeling of well-being. That’s probably why over 15 million Americans do yoga at least once a month.

But there’s a lot more going on in your body when you practice yoga regularly. The benefits are far-reaching and can have a huge impact on your path to self-improvement.

If you’ve always thought of yoga as just a passing fad, you may want to think again. Signing up at the local yoga studio may be just the thing you need to get your body and mind on the right track.

To help you understand the variety of ways it can help you, we’re going over ten facts about yoga you may not have known.

1. Reduce Stress

Stress is a major problem today and can affect nearly all aspects of your life.

By doing yoga each day you can drastically relieve stress. You may be asking exactly how this works.

Yoga helps reduce the level of cortisol your body secretes. Cortisol is the main stress hormone in the human body.

Yoga also trains you to regulate your breathing, which is one of the best ways to calm down and relax when life gets tense. If you’re having a hard time at work or in your personal life, a yoga session can take the edge off.

2. Increase Your Productivity

In this increasingly fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind. You may have tried a number of ways to boost your productivity, but haven’t truly found your groove.

Yoga is all about focus. It not only teaches you to focus on your breathing, it also trains your mind to block everything out. This is very similar to meditation techniques.

After practicing yoga enough, you’ll start applying this focus to other aspects of your life. You’ll likely notice you’re getting more done each day. You’ll also learn how to manage the multitude of distractions you face.

3. Curb Anxiety

If you’re prone to anxiety and find that it holds you back, yoga may be just what you need.

Like stress, yoga helps anxiety by teaching you to slow down, breathe, and focus your energy on one thing. This creates a soothing mental state when you’re feeling tense.

Deep breathing also helps bring down your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. Many people with post-traumatic stress disorder use yoga to help them cope with high levels of anxiety.

4. Build Strength

If you’re concerned about your physical appearance, spending hours at the gym isn’t the only way to tone your muscles.

The great thing about yoga is that once you start advancing to the more difficult poses, you’ll strengthen every muscle in your body. You’ll also drastically increase your flexibility.

If you have issues with back pain or discomfort from an old injury, yoga can help relieve those symptoms. You’ll also feel better about yourself once you start seeing the benefits of daily yoga.

5. Aids in Digestion and Weight Loss

Certain yoga poses can actually help improve overall gastrointestinal function. The combination of physical exertion and breathing techniques can help balance your digestive system.

Doing yoga also burns calories. While it may not be a substitute for jogging or heavy cardio workouts at the gym, it’s a great way to burn a little more every day.

Yoga instructors will also stress the importance of a healthy, well-balanced diet.

6. Fight Depression

One of the biggest mental health benefits of yoga its ability to reduce depression.

Regular exercise has long since been known to help relieve depressive symptoms. With yoga, you get both physical exercise and mental clarity.

Yoga teaches you to clear your mind and block out any thought that may be weighing you down. For people who suffer from depression, this can help promote a healthier mental well-being.

7. Get Better Rest

Sleep is crucial for your mental and physical health. If you’re struggling to get a good night’s sleep, you’re probably also struggling to get through your day.

Incorporating yoga into your daily routine will train you to use relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and mental focus to help you sleep.

Getting your body and mind into a rhythm of relaxation can help you fall asleep easier and stay asleep. If you rely on medication but want to find a natural solution, try yoga.

8. Increased Confidence

Yoga helps you hone in on your own self-awareness. It also tests your own physical limits. When you surpass these limits, you’ll get a boost in confidence.

By sticking with a daily yoga routine, you’ll soon see yourself improving, growing more flexible and gaining muscle tone. You’ll quickly feel an upturn in your self-image.

There’s also no opponent for you to defeat or succumb to. You’re able to focus on yourself, your improvement and your personal achievements.

9. Become More Patient

The only way to advance in yoga is through patience. There’s absolutely no way to tackle the more advanced poses right away. You have to work for it.

When you start, you must first master the basic poses before you move on. You’ll learn the limitations of your body and quickly realize that yoga is a type of training.

Seeing the benefits of patience on the yoga mat will help you carry this over to other aspects of your life.

10. Cleanse Your Body

Getting rid of the toxins that build up in your body is important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Juice cleanses and supplements aren’t the only way to do this.

Yoga can stimulate your kidney and liver and activate the detoxification process. In addition, yoga poses along with deep breathing help your body circulate oxygenated blood to your organs, which is a natural cleansing process.

Take These Facts About Yoga to Heart

If you’ve been searching for different ways to achieve self-improvement, hopefully these ten facts about yoga will convince you to take up the practice. Regardless of your age, it’s a perfect way to maintain balance, both physically and mentally.

For more interesting articles to help you on your journey to self-improvement, check out our blog today.