BENEFITS OF YOGA PRACTICE
Yoga can be practiced by everybody, no matter the age, fitness levels, individual conditions, such as illness or injuries. Yoga offers infinitely flexible approach to poses, with myriad of variations and modifications. Your yoga teacher will be able to assist you in finding your individual approach to postures.
Here is a short list of the benefits that yoga practice offers:
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RELAXATION
In our fast paced world we no longer find time to relax and let go. Furthermore, even when there is such an opportunity, it is difficult to relax, we simply forgot how.
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REDUCTION OF STRESS
Stress is damaging. It affects our minds and our bodies. Living with stress is one of the reasons that prevents us from ability to relax.
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IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY
As your stress levels begin to lessen and you learn to relax, your productivity level proportionally rises. You are able to achieve more and complete your tasks faster. This is why so many work places offer yoga to their employees.
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OVERALL HEALTH IMPROVEMENT
With the aspect of fitness, psychological alignment and emotional release, you boost your overall health. Yoga takes into consideration all aspect of being “a person”, not only the physical aspect. Consistent yoga practice promotes strength and flexibility, toning of soft tissues and organs, improves bone mass, brings agility and plasticity to our bodies and minds.
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INCREASED LEVELS OF OXYGEN
As yoga offers many opportunities to connect with your breath, you learn to stay connected and use the breathing techniques to help during stressful moments:
Increases level of oxygen to your brain Better digestion/elimination functions Benefits to cardiovascular system Decrease of pulse rate Boosting immune system Circulation in the extremities Respiratory system efficiency improves Endocrine system support Clearer mental space Supports of your nervous system Pain management Improved endurance and stamina -
SHIFT IN THE OUTLOOK TO LIFE
What we consider to be of paramount importance sometimes isn’t. We spend so much time and energy on things that don’t really matter. Yoga teaches us to recognize the important aspects in our own lives
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ENERGY INCREASE
As we stop wasting our energy on unimportant things in life, we claim all that energy back.
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CALMNESS, PEACEFULNESS, JOYFULLNESS
These are called our “home” base. As we practice our yoga, we learn to go to our “home” base more often.
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WEIGHT BALANCING
Sometimes we need to lose some and sometimes to gain some. As yoga works with the endocrine system, the body begins to shift towards its optimal position. Yoga practice can assist in our body chemistry. Here are a few benefits specific to our body chemistry:
Decrease of glucose Decrease of sodium Decrease of “bad” cholesterol and increase of “good” cholesterol Increase of hemoglobin Increase of lymphocytes Increase of total serum protein Increase of vitamin C Increase of Thyroxin Increase of Parasympathetic Nervous System function -
AWARENESS
Yoga continuously calls us to our awareness field, so that we notice how we hold ourselves, physically and mentally. It takes some practice, but once you discover your “witnessing” ability, your observation and recognition of yourself and others dramatically shifts.
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MOBILITY OF JOINTS
If we feel pain or stiffness, it is easy to shy away from doing any movement. Yoga practice assists in reclaiming the movement in the joints and gently strengthens them overtime. It is therefore useful for people with arthritis, rheumatoid conditions and fibromyalgia, scoliosis and sciatica issues, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
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PSYCHOLOGICAL/MENTAL
Here is a list of some of the benefits:
Mood elevation Self-acceptance Improvement of social adjustment and social skills Decrease of anxiety Decrease of depression Decrease of hostility Improvement of concentration and focusing Improvement of memory and attention Improvement of ability to learn and retain new things Improvement of somatic and kinesthetic awareness -
INCREASED INTUITION
Our intuition re-awakens and you feel more connected to your own internal guidance. Reclaim your own wisdom.
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INCREASED CREATIVITY
As the contracted state of mind and body release, your creative juices are able to flow again. Less is more, and instead of pushing you begin to flow; creativity is already in us, we simply release it and it surfaces.
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CONNECTION TO SELF
Yoga teaches us to re-connect to ourselves on a deeper level, and this in turn allows us to connect deeply to other people in our lives. Ultimately, the connection of our small heart or spirit connects to the great universal Heart or Spirit.