The Multiple Benefits of Yoga

We all know that yoga is good for us. It increases flexibility, tones our bodies, and relaxes our minds. These are the infamous benefits that pop into almost everyone's minds when someone mentions yoga. Sometimes however, these benefits still aren't enough to get people out the door and to a yoga class.

But I'm here to tell you that implementing a yoga session into your weekly schedule is much more beneficial than you might think. Clinical research has found that the benefits of yoga go way beyond just stretching you out. The most recent yoga research has found yoga provides benefits that a lot of medications can offer-- such as reducing pain, improving depression, and more.

Yoga effective in pain management

According to the researchers from the NIH National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, yoga and other relaxation techniques can help reduce pain. They conducted their research on those with back pain, osteoarthritis, neck pain, fibromyalgia, and severe headaches and migraines. They found that yoga was especially effective in reducing pain for back pain, severe headaches, and migraines.

Yoga benefits men undergoing prostate cancer treatment

According to a study published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics, men who attended yoga classes twice a week experienced less fatigue, better sexual and urinary function, and improvements in emotional and social aspects compared to those who did not perform yoga at all.

Yoga improves mood and decreases symptoms of depression

According to studies presented at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, yoga was found to provide significant benefits for depression and anxious depression. The study involved participants attending regular yoga classes for 9 weeks where they were told to focus on the present moment and avoid self-judgement. Depression, anxiety, stress, rumination, and worry were assessed before, during, and 4 months after the study. It was found that these symptoms not only decreased during the trial, but remained that way even 4 months later.

Yoga use prevalence increases significantly in recent years

More people in the United States are practicing yoga compared with previous decades, according to data published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. Not only that, but 84.7% of respondents indicated improvements in stress, 81% in overall health, 67.5% in emotional well-being, 59.1% in sleep, and 56.9% in sense of control over their health due to their yoga practice.

Time to reconsider that yoga class? I would say yes.

source: (https://www.healio.com/internal-medicine/complementary-alternative-medicine/news/online/%7B9a764e3a-633d-42fe-b1ac-ae1dded573a3%7D/yoga-use-prevalence-increases-significantly-in-recent-years)

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