10 Health Benefits Of Yoga (Backed By Science)

Yoga dates back more than 5,000 years in northern India, and only in the 1890s did it reach the West through the Indian monks that shared their knowledge. Modern teachings on this ancient practice became widespread in the 1970s. Rig Veda, an old text collection, was where the word yoga first appeared. It came from the word “yuj,” which means to join or union in Sanskrit. 

Yoga aims to connect the spirit, body, and mind. It teaches that the body has chakras, which are points where energy flows from. Any disruption in the flow of this energy could cause an imbalance in the emotional, mental, and physical condition. The symptoms of chakra imbalance may manifest physically, like poor digestion and anxiety. It may also show symptoms emotionally and mentally. 

Ancient yoga focused on intensifying spiritual energy and improving mental focus. But over time, the focus changed to stimulating physical energy and inner peace. Fitness is now one of the goals in yoga, thus yoga is now considered a form of exercise. Different types of yoga use a combination of meditation, breathing methods, and poses. Practicing yoga has various benefits, like the ones we listed below. 

Improves Flexibility

Flexibility is vital in physical health as it lets you move more efficiently, thus making it easier to perform different exercises. Its benefits include muscle soreness relief, lower risk of injuries, better muscle coordination, improved posture, and enhanced mobility. You should practice to improve flexibility, and yoga is one way to do that. Without doing so, the muscles get stiff, which could strict your movement, thus affecting not just your exercise but your daily routine. 

There are various reasons why some people are more flexible than others, such as age, bone structure, body size, and connective tissues. But as mentioned, there’s a workaround to improve flexibility, which is practice. Some yoga poses aim to improve your range of movement and stretch the muscles, thus enhancing flexibility over time. It’s one of the leading reasons why people practice yoga today. Yoga styles vary in intensity, so there’s something for everyone. However, even the lowest-intensity yoga style still aids in boosting flexibility. A study on adults found that yoga improved flexibility and slowed down flexibility loss in the subjects.