10 Surprising
Benefits of Yoga and Meditation
Yoga and meditation typically go hand-in-hand and have
been around for thousands of years. They have been used as an alternative
form of exercise to keep the mind and body healthy and happy. Practicing yoga
improves balance, endurance, flexibility, and strength, while meditation helps
keep the mind sharp, relieves stress and anxiety, and can strengthen your
immune system.
Following
a few simple poses, breathing techniques, and positive coping skills can help
retirees manage stress, improve mental clarity, manage chronic conditions, and
promote a healthier lifestyle. With so many health benefits linked to these
traditional practices, many Baby Boomers are taking notice and incorporating
these techniques into their lifestyle. Check out these ten surprising benefits
of yoga and meditation.
Treats Back Pain
Believe
it or not, doing a few yoga poses throughout the week can help with chronic
back pain. Studies have shown that stretching exercises and poses have improved
spinal flexibility and helped ease lower back pain problems in people after
just one week of yoga.
Helps with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Iyengar
yoga, which is a type of yoga that uses blocks, belts, and other positioning
props, has been shown to help people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Hot yoga,
like Bikram and gentle yoga, has also been shown to help because of its slow,
easy-paced poses and movements that benefit the joints, bones, and muscles.
Cures Hangovers
While
you may not want to move or get out of bed when nursing a hangover, experts say
that doing yoga can detox your system and get you feeling fresh much faster.
Certain yoga poses like “plow”, “bow”, or “shoulder stand” work on the thyroid
gland, which improves the metabolism to kick those toxins out of your
system. By reversing the blood flow and bringing more circulation to the brain,
your body will create balance and spring back to life. Not only are you getting
rid of your hangover faster, but also blasting fat and cellulite.
Improves Heart Health
When
it comes to heart health, Baby Boomers need to be wary and maintain a
healthy lifestyle as much as possible. Thanks to yoga and meditation, keeping
your heart healthy is easy. Studies have shown that yoga is linked to a reduced
risk of heart disease because of its cardiovascular benefits that eliminate arterial
plaque. Meditation also helps lower heart rate and improve blood circulation.
Meditating one time a day for ten minutes can help you relax, reduce stress
hormones, lower your blood pressure, and allow for better blood flow.
Helps with Asthma
If
you suffer from asthma then you might want to take up yoga. Research has shown
that adults with mild to moderate asthma who did an eight-week session of yoga
combined with their regular meds saw a marked improvement. Pranayama is a type
of yoga that focuses on breathing techniques that have shown to be especially
effective against asthma.
Improves Digestion
If
you have trouble with your daily fiber intake and can’t get things moving
easily then practicing yoga can be a tremendous help. There are many yoga
poses, twists, and moves that massage internal organs that help food move along
in your digestive system. Yoga also stimulates the lymphatic system that helps
flush out toxins, making your body cleaner. Meditation can also help with
symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) by
reducing the frequency of stress-related flare-ups.
Helps You Sleep Better
In
order to live a healthy, balanced lifestyle you need to get enough rest so you
can function the next day. If you have trouble sleeping or suffer from
insomnia, yoga can greatly improve your sleep quality. Doing yoga
twice a week helped people sleep better, reduce stress, and lower
anxiety. Meditation and breathing techniques also help clear your mind so you
can relax and slow down your thoughts, allowing you the peace of mind to get a
good night’s sleep.
Boosts Your Mood
Yoga
and meditation have been linked with emotional health boosts. Studies have
shown that yoga and meditation help improve cognitive-behavioral performance as
well as aid with mood swings, menopause, schizophrenia, insomnia, depression,
and anxiety. Practicing yoga in a group setting also stimulates the production
of oxytocin, which is the love hormone, and it also produces higher serotonin
levels, which is the happy hormone. Combined, these hormones dramatically
improve someone’s mood.
Combats Migraines
No
one likes to endure the pain of a migraine. That’s why it’s beneficial to
practice yoga to fight them off. One of the recommended moves that alleviate
migraines is the “bridge pose.” You lie on your back with your knees bent and
your feet hip-width apart on the floor. With your hands on the floor, press
down into your legs and draw your hips up. The trick is to relax the tension in
your muscles from your neck and shoulders, which can be misaligned or stressed
from hunching over a computer or phone all day long.
Provides Mental Clarity
A
healthy dose of yoga and meditation will keep your brain sharp and clear.
Simple yoga practices and breathing techniques allow you to free your mind from
“clutter” that trickles down to your physical well-being. Slow breathing and
yoga poses will help your memory and keep your thoughts more organized once you
get rid of stress, anxiety, and negative thinking. Reaching a place of quiet
peacefulness is the key to healthy memory function.
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