Gratitude Series: The Benefits of Yoga on Physical Wellness
When we practice yoga, performing the asanas (poses) that help us achieve relaxation and set us up for all of those incredible mental health benefits (see Gratitude Series: The Benefits of Yoga on Mental Health), we are also exercising in a way that has so many physical benefits, not just for the average active person, but for aging individuals, for those who’ve experienced injuries, and those with chronic pain as well.
I’m sure you’ll be familiar with some of the benefits below, but I think there are others that will surprise you. There are, of course, the well-advertised benefits of increased flexibillity, and increased muscle strength and toning, but these benefits are only scratching the surface.
Two incredible benefits are the reduction of chronic back pain and the lessening of pain from arthritis.
According to Harvard Health Publishing of Harvard Medical School, “Yoga helps alleviate back pain by increasing flexibility and muscle strength. Relaxation, stress reduction, and better body awareness may also play a role.”
”Exercise has [also] been shown to help alleviate the pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis. […] Yoga offers a gentle form of exercise that helps improve range of motion and strengthen the muscles around painful joints. […] People with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder, may also benefit. In a 2015 study, women with rheumatoid arthritis reported improvements in their physical health, walking ability, pain levels, energy, and mood, and had significantly fewer swollen and tender joints, after doing two hour-long yoga classes a week for eight weeks.”
According to John Hopkins Medicine, through helping to reduce stress, body-wide inflammation, high blood pressure, and excess weight, yoga can improve heart and circulatory health as well.
Yoga can help prevent future injuries by strengthening the stabilizing ligaments around your joints, and increasing your body awareness. Yoga can help you maintain a balanced metabolism which can aid in weight reduction. Yoga also helps improve respiration, helps you fall asleep faster and achieve a deeper sleep, and increases your energy levels, which all aid in increasing your overall vitality and quality of life.
There are so many physical benefits to be grateful for in the practice of yoga. No matter your experience, your abilities, or your age, there are yoga classes designed to meet your physical needs and improve your quality of life.
—Gabbie Gordon, Client Experience Manager
Read more at Harvard Health: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-physical-benefits-of-yoga, John Hopkins Medicine: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/9-benefits-of-yoga, and American Osteopathic Association: https://osteopathic.org/what-is-osteopathic-medicine/benefits-of-yoga/
