Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years to promote flexibility and breathing exercises through simple meditation while holding simple to complex body poses. One of the most common reasons people practice yoga is for relaxation, but recently researchers have been discovering health benefits associated with yoga.
Most yoga practitioners have been noticing other benefits from yoga including boosting their immune system or just feeling more relaxed and at ease. Recently, Western science is beginning to provide some concrete facts on how yoga improves health, heals aches and pains, and keeps colds away. Once you understand them, you’ll have even more motivation to step onto your mat.
- Each time you practice yoga, you take your joints through their full range of motion. This can help prevent cartilage and joint breakdown that leads to arthritis.
- Yoga increases blood circulation especially in your hands and feet. Yoga also gets more oxygen to your cells, which helps them function better.
- In people with diabetes, yoga has been found to lower blood sugar in several ways: by lowering cortisol and adrenaline levels, encouraging weight loss, and improving sensitivity to the effects of insulin.
- Stimulation is good, but too much of it can be overwhelming. Yoga can provide relief from the energy demands of modern life.
- Yoga also includes cleansing practices that keep allergies and viruses at bay. This element of yoga entails cleaning the nasal passages with salt water to remove pollen and viruses from the nose.
Yes, yoga increases flexibility and reduces stress, but the practice can do more than help you twist your body into pretzel shapes and find inner peace. It has existed for thousands of years and has become increasingly popular as a gym alternative to maintain healthy cardiovascular and circulatory health. It is not encouraged to use yoga in place of other medicine, especially without consulting with your physician first.
For more hospital events, highlights, health and fitness tips, visit us on Facebook.com/FlushingHospital and follow us on Twitter
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.