15 Benefits of Yoga That Will Surprise You

Yoga is becoming popular in our fast-paced society. If your looking for reasons to begin here are 15 benefits of yoga that will surprise you.

My interest in yoga grew after I heard Glennon Doyle say it improved her sex life.

I was suffering in this area at the time so, I said, why not!

A few days after, I bought yoga pants and started my Yoga routine on YouTube and noticed instant improvement in flexibility after two weeks of practice, I was hooked!

If you are a newbie looking for reasons to start a yoga practice or a yogi looking for inspiration, look no further.

Here are 15 benefits you will get from consistent yoga practice.

Prevents and relieves stress

Yoga helps to regulate adrenal glands, which are responsible for regulating energy, stress and blood pressure.

If you feel stressed after a rough day, yoga can help you feel calm and relaxed.

The best part is that the regular practice of yoga ensures that you will less likely get stressed out in the first place.

According to a study, two groups took an exam; the first group practiced yoga with an instructor for 7 weeks before the exam, and the second group didn’t.

The results of the study show that the groups that practiced yoga remained relatively calm before and during the exam compared to the group that did not practice yoga.

The group that practiced yoga also performed better.

Brings Mindfulness to Daily Activities

If you’ve tried yoga even once, you know that when your mind wanders from your breath and posture, you topple over if it is a balancing pose!

Why? Because yoga requires you to focus your mind and breath in the present moment to hold the pose.

Enough practice of this attention and mindfulness will bleed into every other day to day activities.

Reduces anxiety and depression

Yoga helps to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while boosting overall health.

It functions as a self-soothing and relaxation technique offering the same benefits to a depressed person as exercise, meditation, or socializing with friends would.

According to a prison study, a 10-week yoga course reduced levels of depression and anxiety in inmates and workers while also boosting their cognitive-behavioral performance.

Benefits Relationships

The attention you cultivate through consistent practice of yoga does not stay on the yoga mat; it spills over in your relationships, making you attentive to your partner, kids, and friends.

When you feel less anxious and stressed, you naturally become more positive and a joy to be around.

Your loved ones will be thrilled to be around you and the quality of your relationships will improve.

Improves quality of sleep

If you struggle with insomnia, you might want to consider adding yoga to your daily routine. It provides the perfect downtime for the hectic and continually simulating modern life.

In a study of women with sleep problems and osteoarthritis, evening yoga practice was associated with significant improvements in sleep quality.

The number of nights the women struggled to sleep (insomnia) also reduced.

Improves Body Image

Have you ever wondered why there are no mirrors in yoga studios?

It’s because the practice of yoga focuses on the relationship between your body and mind.

Instead of focusing on your body or what another person looks like, you turn inward. Hence concentrating on your awareness of the body, its ability, and strength in the present moment.

According to surveys, people who practiced yoga were more aware and less critical of their bodies than those who didn’t.

Improves Flexibility

Flexibility is the first obvious benefit of yoga, at least it was for me.

In the beginning, most of the postures are difficult, you may have to strain. The trick is not to compare yourself to experienced yogis.

If you keep practicing, your muscle aches and pains will disappear as you loosen up and become more flexible.

Perfects Posture

Posture is something I have personally struggled with most of my adult life.

I have tried posture correctors and corsets, but nothing worked until I added yoga to my routine.

If you struggle with posture, yoga should be your best friend.

Improves Balance

The regular practice of yoga enhances balance.

Better balance translates to fewer falls, purposeful movements, and less friction in the joints.

Protects Bone Density

Lifting weights at the gym or running aren’t the only ways available to avoid losing bone density.

Yoga helps preserve bone density through strength-bearing poses; this is especially helpful if you do not enjoy running or lifting weights.

You make better food choices

I have never craved unhealthy snacks or food after a yoga workout, true story.

When you practice yoga regularly, you become mindful of your body, including what it needs instead of what you crave.

In short, you make better food choices.

Eases Pain

Yoga eases lower back pain in addition to other areas of pain, such as hand osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia carpal tunnel syndrome, and joint pain in breast cancer survivors.

Improves cardiovascular health

Studies in patients with coronary heart disease have shown that yoga can help to lower stress, anxiety, depression, blood pressure, and BMI.

In addition, fast-paced yoga gets your heart rate up while other postures build strength and endurance.

Improves Strength

Most people who have never tried yoga think it’s easy.

To work your way up, you must challenge yourself in attention, strength, and balance. In short, yoga can help you build mental and physical strength.

Makes you happier

Yoga helps reduce cortisol in the body, which is correlated with depression and stress.

It also increases serotonin levels associated with happiness.  

Long term practitioners of yoga and meditation have heightened activity in the prefrontal cortex, which is associated with joy, according to Richard Davidson, Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin.

I have personally experienced some of the benefits.

For example; I find it easier to eat clean, I have fewer cravings, sleep better, I am more creative and much more flexible.

Please keep in mind that you will only rip benefits from Yoga if you practice at least twice a week.

If you have any questions about the benefits of yoga or a topic you would want me to write about, ask in the comment section.

Best Wishes!