Benefits of Yoga

Open-mindedness is one of the keys to happiness. Variety is too. Believe it or not man is composed of four bodies that need to be nurtured to enjoy a balanced life. Here, yoga comes in as an alternative lifestyle. The profound benefits of yoga have made believers out of even the most skeptical westerners that there are now about 20 million yoga practitioners in America alone. Although it is an ancient, Eastern spiritual philosophy, a beginner may start with the simplest yoga postures and may gradually choose from an enormous number of powerful practices. It has been proven that physical exercise, proper breathing, meditation or a combination of these done constantly can improve all areas of one’s life. The benefits of yoga have been clinically verified and these studies have been published in magazines and journals.

Benefits of Yoga

I. Physical Body Benefits

In a good daily yoga program, the physical and breathing exercises improve the oxygen supply and blood circulation of the whole body affecting internal glands and organs. The same with the functions of the digestive, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems resulting to:

1. improved respiratory function
2. lower blood pressure – practitioners stop medication completely or were able to reduce significantly the amount of medication they were taking
3. loosened stiff neck
4. better sleep
5. lower blood sugar levels
6. improved physical fitness that increase a person’s physical activities and functions
7. beauty – healthy and clear complexion
8. weight reduction
9. less wrinkles that the face regains its luster
10. relief to painful joints – the repetitious exercises of the extremities release tensions in the muscles and older people with arthritis have found so much relief in yoga
11. renewed vital energy that lessens the experience of fatigue
12. improved eyesight and hearing – yoga head circles done slowly loosen a stiff neck giving the eyes and ears good blood supply improving vision and hearing
13. more pliable body
14. healing and rehabilitation of injuries
15. improved system of elimination of wastes and toxins of the body
16. healing effects on the thyroid, pituitary, adrenal and sex glands that produce a feeling of well-being, a longer life span and hopefully extended sexual virility as well

II. Emotional Body Benefits

The rejuvenating benefits of yoga on the glands and the central nervous system result to a general well-being that make our emotional body experience the following:

1. reduced anxiety
2. happier disposition
3. better levels of interpersonal functioning
4. detachment from ego-centeredness
5. state of being that is less fearful of the future
6. freedom from impulsive/obsessive/compulsive behavior
7. freedom from bad habits and addictions like alcoholism and smoking

III. Mental Body Benefits

The physical exercises with proper breathing bring more oxygen and blood to the brain. When coupled with the practice of the meditation techniques that focus on putting the reins on the monkey mind (jumping from one idea to another) the practitioner will be rewarded with:

1. a mind that thinks clearer
2. a calmer mind that is less mindful of the past
3. a more positive outlook in life – confident, enthusiastic and optimistic
4. better focus in mental activities that need concentrated efforts like reading, analyzing data, and studying
5. improved memory
6. improved communication between the right and left side of the brain

IV. Etheric Body Benefits

With proper yoga practice, a better person emerges with:

1. a less judgmental attitude of other people’s faults and mistakes
2. greater tolerance of the idiosyncrasies and belief systems of other people
3. a more forgiving and humane nature
4. a harmonious and balanced living
5. an acceptance of one’s talents that may be used to make the world a better place
6. unity of body, heart, mind and spirit in decision-making that the practitioner exudes poise and serenity

One of the most profound benefits of yoga is enlightenment. It is Self-Realization. And the only way to its attainment is the perfected practice of asanas (postures), Pranayama (breathing exercises), kriyas (cleansing procedures), Mudras (hand gestures) and mantras (thought forms in syllable). A good way of life!