Yoga seems to be the hot new fitness trend across the world. It’s a common thought that yoga is simply another form of exercise, which it is! However, yoga is actually a complete physical, mental, and spiritual experience. Yes, yoga can increase your flexibility and help your muscles have room to grow in the gym, but it is so much more than that! Here are 5 ways yoga and meditation can benefit your current fitness regimen.
Yoga will improve your flexibility and strength.
Improved flexibility and strength is one of the most obvious benefits of yoga. During asana’s, or postures, you will hold positions that simultaneously build muscular strength and lengthen your muscles. As you continue adding a yoga practice to your routine, whether daily, weekly or biweekly, you’ll notice that you can squat deeper, touch your toes, or even do a handstand!
Tight muscles are a cause of many issues, including poor posture, certain aches and pains, and even knee problems! All of our muscles are connected, so tight hips can lead to problems in your knees, shins, and lower back. Incorporating yoga into your routine can help your muscles loosen over time and strengthen your endurance, posture, and much more.
Helps Your Circulation
Yoga will get your blood flowing. The different poses you practice during your yoga class will help your circulation, specifically on your hands and feet. Twisting postures are meant to massage internal organs and increase blood flow to increase function. Inverted poses like head and shoulder stand will direct blood flow from your feet and legs back towards your heart. This helps your blood reduce clotting proteins, which can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. After practicing yoga regularly for a few months, it can reduce the risks of heart and/or kidney problems. Good news!
Founds a Healthy Lifestyle
A regular yoga practice will get you moving. The spiritual and emotional dimensions of a yoga practice will cause you to be more mindful about what you put in your body. The meditative state that occurs during yoga may lead one to address any issues off the mat, including eating, consciousness, and mental fluctuations. You will burn calories during an asana practice, of course! However yoga is not just a physical experience, but an embodiment of the physical, mental, and spiritual, similar to a healthy lifestyle.
Improves balance
Regularly practicing yoga increases mindfulness, and the ability to feel what your body is doing and where it is in space, thus increasing balance. The different asanas allow us to flow through different movements whilst focusing on breath. Certain asanas, like chair pose or tree pose, will encourage us to engage our core strength and focus on breath throughout any feelings of imbalance. Better balance could mean less falls for the elderly, better mobility whilst weight-training, and simply feeling less wobbly both on and off the mat.
Encourages Self-Care
The mat is a place where we let go of the outside world. In yoga we are meant to focus on the relationship with self. Both the postures and meditative aspects of yoga will give you the tools to effect change. As you practice yoga regularly, you may notice a few things. You will begin to get involved in your own care, discover that your involvement is one of the only things that will effect change, and finally you will receive hope in the form of these two discoveries. Healing starts from within, and yoga is the perfect habit to begin on your healing journey!
Yoga is the cherry on top of a consistent fitness routine, and can sculpt your body right before your eyes. But the benefits of yoga go beyond the physical body. Meditation paired with yoga can have tremendous benefits for your overall health! If you’re interested in adding yoga to your routine, try the Calistoga Fit App! Join our 20-Day Yoga program, and begin your healing journey with us.
