The Benefits of Yoga

Kevin Caldbeck

So what is Yoga? That is a tough question to answer as yoga can accomplish different goals for each individual. A basic definintion of yoga might be, a system of developing the mind and body using natural methods.

Using these natural methods Yoga helps to improve the person's confidence, discipline, and fitness, which will leave them as a more contented individual.

There are literaly thousands of different asanas, (positons or techniques) and the proper ones for each person must be determined on an individual basis with the help of a trained instructor.

You will find there are yoga positions for beginners, to more advanced techniques for the masters of yoga. Retreats dedicated soley to yoga can be found just about anywhere in the world.

As you do your research into yoga you will find information about clothes for yoga, yoga books, yoga mats, yoga videos, and the list goes on.

The Benefits of Yoga

Yoga is a type of exercise that has been around for thousands of years.
It consists of a series of postures, breathing and meditation and offers excellent health benefits to all who do it.

Here are some physiological benefits that arise out of doing yoga:

Stable autonomic nervous system equilibrium

Pulse rate decreases

Respiratory rate decreases

Blood Pressure decreases (of special significance for hypo reactors)

Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) increases

EEG - alpha waves increase (theta, delta, and beta waves also increase during various stages of meditation)

EMG activity decreases

Cardiovascular efficiency increases

Respiratory efficiency increases

Gastrointestinal function normalizes

Endocrine function normalizes

Excretory functions improve

Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase

Breath-holding time increases

Joint range of motion increase

Grip strength increases

Eye-hand coordination improves

Dexterity skills improve

Reaction time improves

Posture improves

Strength and resiliency increase

Endurance increases

Energy level increases

Weight normalizes

Sleep improves

Immunity increases

Pain decreases

Steadiness improves

Depth perception improves

Balance improves

Integrated functioning of body parts improves

Yoga originated in India and was practised by the ascetics who lived in the forests in solitude practising this individual art form. The yogic postures and different
stages of yoga were only handed down to some deserving students and as a result, yoga was kept relatively to India and not popularised elsewhere in the world.

It was only in 1918, when the Yoga Institute was founded in Mumbai, that yoga was then made available for everyone else.

Yoga is based on the premise that our physical body is supposed to move and exercise and proper exercise is obtained by carrying out specific yoga postures (also known as "asana"). These postures stretch and tone all parts of the body, including the ligaments and muscles, and in doing so aid with the circulation of blood. The asanas, in particular, are designed to regulate the physical and physiological functions of the body and as a result of this they help rejuvenate the different body parts.

As well as this, Yoga involves a lot of stretching postures which are excellent for the spine and for helping it to gain and maintain flexibility.

Regular yoga sessions are known to have excellent beneficial results for the body. These include relaxing your body, rejuvenating different parts of your body and giving you more strength, energy and greater flexibility.

Yoga is considered more a relaxing and therapeutic way of rejuvenating the body (as opposed to a heavy session at the gym, pounding away in an aerobics class). At a deeper level it works at uniting the mind, body and spirit. It helps you to be more in tune with your body, to be more self aware of your posture, alignment and movement.

In fact, many people now take up yoga because it enables them to have more energy, to be fitter, to be more relaxed and centered – and ultimately, able to handle stress and to be happy! Now that may sound like rather a tall order – but ask anyone who practices yoga regularly, and they will tell you that they have benefited enormously from yoga.

Yoga is not without it's Christian critics

Many in the Christian circles are dead set against the practice of yoga, citing the Hindu background of yoga and claiming that the practices of yoga are designed to have the practioner become one with other gods. It is considered to be another facet of the new age movement by many Christians. Christians hold to one God in three "persons" (The Trinity) Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to give recognition to another so called god is considered to be blasphemy.

There have been attempts to create what is being called "Christian Yoga" but even this is being opposed in many circles. Better Your Health will be doing further research into this matter, and by signing up for our newsletter, you will be notified as soon as the material is availiable.

We at Better Your Health hope you have found this article to be very helpful in your research into Yoga. Please feel free to check out the many other articles we have on this site about Yoga.

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