Yoga Fitness and Health benefits

This article describes how yoga fitness can benefit your healthy lifestyle goals.

Benefits of Yoga - Why Yoga Exercise is Good for You

Yoga books tell us that Yoga, as we all know, is aimed to unite the mind, the body, and the spirit. Yogis view that the mind and the body are one, and that if it is given the right yoga kit and tools and taken to the right environment, it can find harmony and heal itself. Yoga therefore is considered therapeutic. It helps you become more aware of your body's posture, alignment and patterns of movement.

It makes the body more flexible and helps you relax even in the midst of a stress stricken environment. This is one of the foremost reasons why people want to start Practicing Yoga - to feel fitter, be more energetic, be happier and peaceful.

Yoga is a science that has been practiced for thousands of years. It consists of Ancient Theories, observations and principles about the mind and body connection which is now being proven by modern medicine. Substantial research has been conducted to look at the Health Benefits of Yoga - from the Yoga Postures (Asanas), Yoga Breathing (Pranayama), and Meditation. The information on Yoga Poses & Benefits are grouped into three categories-physiological, psychological, biochemical effects. Furthermore, scientists have laid these results against the benefits of regular exercise

Physiological Benefits of Yoga

1. Stable autonomic nervous system equilibrium
2. Pulse rate decreases
3. Respiratory rate decreases
4. Blood Pressure decreases (of special significance for hyporeactors)
5. Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) increases
6. EEG - alpha waves increase (theta, delta, and beta waves also increase during various stages of meditation)
7. EMG activity decreases
8. Cardiovascular efficiency increases
9. Respiratory efficiency increases
10. Gastrointestinal function normalizes
11. Endocrine function normalizes
12. Excretory functions improve
13. Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase
14. Breath-holding time increases
15. Joint range of motion increase
16. Grip strength increases
17. Eye-hand coordination improves
18. Dexterity skills improve
19. Reaction time improves
20. Posture improves
21. Strength and resiliency increase
22. Endurance increases
23. Energy level increases
24. Weight normalizes
25. Sleep improves
26. Immunity increases
27. Pain decreases
28. Steadiness improves
29. Depth perception improves
30. Balance improves
31. Integrated functioning of body parts improves

Psychological Benefits of Yoga

1. Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase
2. Mood improves and subjective well-being increases
3. Self-acceptance and self-actualization increase
4. Social adjustment increases
5. Anxiety and Depression decrease
6. Hostility decreases
7. Concentration improves
8. Memory improves
9. Attention improves
10. Learning efficiency improves
11. Mood improves
12. Self-actualization increase
13. Social skills increases
14. Well-being increases
15. Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase
16. Self-acceptance increase
17. Attention improves
18. Concentration improves
19. Memory improves
20. Learning efficiency improves
21. Symbol coding improves
22. Depth perception improves
23. Flicker fusion frequency improves

Biochemical Benefits of Yoga

1. Glucose decreases
2. Sodium decreases
3. Total cholesterol decreases
4. Triglycerides decrease
5. HDL cholesterol increases
6. LDL cholesterol decreases
7. VLDL cholesterol decreases
8. Cholinesterase increases
9. Catecholamines decrease
10. ATPase increases
11. Hematocrit increases
12. Hemoglobin increases
13. Lymphocyte count increases
14. Total white blood cell count decreases
15. Thyroxin increases
16. Vitamin C increases
17. Total serum protein increases

Yoga Health Benefits versus Exercise Benefits

1. Yoga Benefits

1. Parasympathetic Nervous System dominates
2. Subcortical regions of brain dominate
3. Slow dynamic and static movements
4. Normalization of muscle tone
5. Low risk of injuring muscles and ligaments
6. Low caloric consumption
7. Effort is minimized, relaxed
8. Energizing (breathing is natural or controlled)
9. Balanced activity of opposing muscle groups
10. Noncompetitive, process-oriented
11. Awareness is internal (focus is on breath and the infinite)
12. Limitless possibilities for growth in self-awareness

1. Exercise Benefits

1. Sympathetic Nervous System dominates
2. Cortical regions of brain dominate
3. Rapid forceful movements
4. Increased muscle tension
5. Higher risk of injury
6. Moderate to high caloric consumption
7. Effort is maximized
8. Fatiguing (breathing is taxed)
9. Imbalance activity of opposing groups
10. Competitive, goal-oriented
11. Awareness is external (focus is on reaching the toes, reaching the finish line, etc.)
12. Boredom factor