Thinking about taking up yoga? The mental and physical rewards of yoga are well worth it -- relaxation, better sleep, increased concentration and more. If you’ve been trying to muster up the motivation to begin practicing yoga but need a bit more inspiration, read on for 5 reasons to get on board this healthy bandwagon.
1. Yoga Clears Out Mind Clutter
In today’s always-on-the-run world, your mind may be constantly spinning -- thinking about what happened previously, what’s currently going on and what’s next on your to-do list. Yoga can help you stay in the present moment and clear your head. “Things can cause us stress because we hold on to them and let them create stories in our mind, which takes up our precious time,” says Jessica Ray, yoga teacher at Back Bay Yoga Studio in Boston. She feels the practice “helps clear it all out.”
2. Yoga Improves Your Mood
If you’re feeling blue, yoga can provide a natural pick-me-up. A 2011 study from Boston University School of Medicine found that yoga improved the moods and decreased the anxiety of 19 yogis over a 12-week period. This is attributed to the levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, which increase when you practice yoga. Other studies have found links between low GABA levels and depression. So pull out that yoga mat and improve your health and happiness.
3. Yoga Helps You Sleep
If you find yourself tossing and turning at night, yoga may help you sleep more soundly. A 2004 study published in the Journal of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback found that yoga reduced awakenings that contributes to insomnia. Participants reported better sleep efficiency, sleeping longer and waking less frequently during the night, among other improvements. Add some oms to your routine and you may find it easier to catch some Z's.
4. Yoga Relieves Stress
If you feel stressed from work or other demands, Jessica Ray, yoga teacher at Back Bay Yoga Studio, recommends releasing your worries through yoga. “Just the simple act of taking a few deep breaths can help ease the mind and reduce stress as your body moves through poses,” she says. “As you incorporate breath into each movement, the muscles in the body begin to relax and the places we hold our stress and tension start to release.” Have a big presentation coming up? Roll out the yoga mat and run through a few sun salutations or simply sit quietly and meditate, focusing on the in and out of each breath.
5. Yoga Teaches You to Breathe Again
Deep breathing can relax you and help you deal with stress better. A large part of yoga centers on the breath. “Yoga teaches you to breathe not only when it’s easy, but also when things are difficult,” says Laura Burkhart, San Francisco-based yoga teacher. It may sound silly, but when you are constantly on the go or in stressful situations, you sometimes forget to breathe -- at least productively. The slow, deep-breathing techniques you learn in yoga can help in tense circumstances when you might find yourself taking quick, shallow breaths.
