Many people start yoga upon a physician, therapist, or friend’s recommendation. AT times, people come to yoga as a last resort in dealing with stress-induced health problems, or pain of various kinds. Or, they seek (and find) in yoga, additional means to improve their sport performance. Whatever the reason, the benefits usually exceed the expectations, so much so that yoga becomes a life- long habit. And for very good reasons!

• Alleviates pain. Back and neck pain is oftentimes the result of irritating nerves that trigger muscles into spamming. Through relaxing the muscles, pressure on different nerves is being decreased resulting in pain reduction.
• Reduces blood sugar. Regular and sustained practice of yoga reduces blood sugar levels, improving the condition of Type 2 diabetes patients (April 2017 issue of the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research)
• Reduces PMS. In a study, women practicing yoga regularly reported less to no PMS related symptoms, compared to the control group. (Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine)
• Improves cardiovascular health. Regular yoga practice helps reducing blood pressure, and enhances lung capacity, which result in better oxygenation of the heart and brain.
• Increases flexibility. The combination of engaging the muscles and stretching them afterwards, added to the relaxation that occurs during practice, they all lead to increased flexibility and range of motion.
• Prevents organs prolapse and incontinence. Yoga practice strengthens the pelvic floor. This in turn, prevents the prolapse of pelvic organs including the urinary bladder, therefore ameliorating incontinence.
• Better balance. Many of the poses and transitions help specifically to develop better balance, which reduces the fear and the risk of falling in elderly.
• Better sleep. A short, 30 minutes yoga routine consisting of gentle poses and specific breathing exercises done before bedtime, facilitates falling asleep and staying asleep through the night.
• Reduces depression. Regular practice of yoga, especially when supported by regular meditation helps to reduce depression.
• Boosts self-confidence. Yoga practitioners have a better relationship with their own bodies, based on self-love and appreciation. Yogis have better posture and a more balanced and supple gait, leading to a better self-image.
• Lengthens lifespan. As part of a healthy lifestyle, yoga helps with weight management, chronic fatigue, and erases the sign of oxidative stress and inflammation, all factors known to shorten lifespan. (May 2017 issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine)