YOGA

Yoga is a mind and body exercise, suitable for physical fitness, mental health, breath control, relaxation, and meditation. It is recommended for people of all ages. If you have an illness such as depression or anxiety disorder, or you are in the process of recovering from surgery, yoga should be incorporated as one of the treatments for you to recover speedily from the condition. This can be achieved with a yoga therapist who works together with your physician. A yoga specialist is someone who has undergone advanced training in the art and is now certified to put people through in performing the art of yoga effectively.

Benefits of Yoga Practice;

1. Physical Benefits:

• Improves flexibility and range of motion: Yoga postures (asanas) help to increase flexibility and improve mobility of our joints.
• Increased Strength and Muscle Tone: Holding yoga poses builds the strength of our muscle and improves overall body tone.
• Better Balance and Coordination: Yoga practice helps to improve balance and coordination via standing poses and balancing exercises.

2. Mental and Emotional Benefits:

• Reduces Stress: Yoga practice promotes relaxation, reduces levels of cortisol as well as helps to manage stress and anxiety.
• Improves Mood and Well-being: Regular yoga practice is linked with enhanced mood, increased feelings of well-being, and reduced symptoms of depression.
• Enhances Cognitive Function: Yoga and meditation techniques have been shown to improve cognitive function, attention, and concentration.

3. Cardiovascular Health:

• Lowers Blood Pressure: Yoga practice has been linked to blood pressure reduction, which can help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Improves Heart Rate Variability: Yoga and meditation may improve heart rate variability, a marker of cardiac health and resilience.

4. Pain Management:

• Reduces Chronic Pain: Yoga is effective in reducing intensity of pain and improving function in individuals with chronic pain conditions such as lower back pain, arthritis, and fibromyalgia.

5. Quality of Life:

• Enhances Quality of Life: Regular yoga practice is linked with improved quality of life, subjective well-being, and overall life satisfaction.

References

1. Cramer, H., et al. (2018). Yoga for anxiety and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Depression and Anxiety, 35(9), 830-843.
2. Cramer, H., et al. (2017). Yoga for improving health-related quality of life, mental health, and cancer-related symptoms in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1(1), CD010802.
3. Holtzman, S., Beggs, R. T. (2013). Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Pain Research and Management, 18(5), 267-272.
4. Tyagi, A., Cohen, M. (2014). Yoga and Hypertension: A Systematic Review. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 20(2), 32-59.
5. Taneja, D. K., Tyagi, A. (2014). Effects of Yoga on the Musculoskeletal System: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Yoga, 7(2), 138-141.