Yoga is a philosophy, a way of life, and a physical and spiritual activity valued for its ability to reduce stress levels. It is also known for its benefits on physical and mental health. However, many people still wonder how exactly yoga affects the human body. It is good to point out that yoga has short, medium and long term effects.
Short term effects
Right after the end of the course, you will experience some of these benefits:
Reduced Stress Levels - Numerous scientific studies have confirmed that yoga lowers the activity of proteins that play an important role in the inflammatory processes that actually lead to stress.
Improved Cognitive Function - According to many experts, 15 minutes after completing your yoga (hatha yoga) class, you may notice improved brain function. Your memory and sharpness of mind will also be improved.
Improved flexibility - this is especially true for Bikram yoga practitioners. With the help of yoga, you will improve the flexibility of your shoulders and lower back.
Medium term effects
When we talk about medium term effects, we are talking about the effects you can expect after at least 3 months of practicing yoga.
Improved Lung Capacity - If you are looking for a healthy approach to increasing lung capacity, you can rely on yoga. According to research published not long ago, practicing hatha yoga for more than 3 months can increase lung capacity or the maximum amount of air a person can breathe out.
Stabilized Blood Pressure - Many people have high blood pressure and yoga can help stabilize their blood pressure. Research has shown that yoga is very effective in people with mild to moderate high blood pressure.
Elimination of Anxiety - Practicing yoga for more than 12 months can help people eliminate anxiety. At the same time, this activity will also increase the presence of gamma amino-butyric acid which has been shown to be effective against cases of depression and anxiety problems.
Reduced neck and back pain - stretches and powerful yoga positions can reduce the intensity of neck and back pain after a month.
Healing Chronic Back Pain - Another study confirmed that yoga may be more effective than many conventional drug-based chronic back pain treatments. Of course, there are no side effects associated with practicing yoga.
Regulates Blood Sugar In People With Diabetes - If you combine yoga and conventional diabetes treatment, you can expect to stabilize blood sugar. This interesting finding was confirmed by a series of tests on diabetic patients who practiced yoga. In addition, yoga also promotes weight loss.
Long term effects
Long-term effects are the positive effects one can expect after being involved in yoga activities for several years.
Healthy Weight - According to a recent scientific study, there is a direct link between regular yoga practice and normal weight. The study was carried out on hundreds of middle-aged individuals.
Strengthening bones - Yoga exercises can improve bone density in older people who regularly take yoga classes for at least two years.
Reduced Risk of Developing Heart Disease - Yoga has also been proven to reduce risk factors that contribute to the emergence of cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure, blood sugar, and bad cholesterol.
Keep in mind that these are just a few of the ways yoga improves our health.
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