Yoga as a miracle cure
Apr 01, 2020
The effect of yoga: How regular practice changes your life
Yoga is a philosophy of life with a lot of tradition. It has been practised for more than 2000 years to create a balance between emotional, physical and spiritual health. With increasing interest in a balanced lifestyle in the Western world, science has also taken a closer look at the health effects of yoga in recent years. Research results from universities such as Harvard or the Charité, confirm that yoga is a real miracle cure.
In this article, we will introduce you to the many physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga that have been proven by both scientists and yogis.
What does yoga do to our body?
Regular yoga practice reduces stress and generally makes you feel more relaxed. But why is that?
The different asanas stimulate your vagus nerve, which activates your relaxation and regeneration system. At the same time, the release of cortisol, the primary stress hormone, is reduced.
Many of us are under constant stress in our daily lives - you're late in the morning, worried you won't be able to handle the workload at work by the end of the day, or worried about the future of the world. This leads to our bodies not being able to carry out certain processes correctly. These include digestion, but also cell regeneration and the strengthening of the immune system.
Yoga helps to leave the stress mode of the body, the so-called sympathetic nervous system, and switch to the recovery mode, the parasympathetic nervous system.
With just a few sun salutations in the morning, you can calm your nervous system and start the day more relaxed. In the following, we have summarised for you how regular yoga practice also affects your body.
- Yoga works like a detox cure for your organs: by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, your organs are better supplied. Both the liver and kidney function, whose task is to detoxify your body, are improved. In addition, your lymphatic system is stimulated and toxins are removed more quickly.
- Yoga strengthens, mobilises and stretches your body: in yoga flow, many different muscles are activated and your body goes from tension to relaxation and stretching. This systematic stretching through yoga poses releases muscle tension and promotes your flexibility. In the long term, muscles and bones are strengthened, which is why yoga is often recommended as an accompanying therapy for osteoporosis patients.
- Yoga increases your endurance: Yoga also helps you to take a deep breath. Pranayama, the teaching of various breathing techniques, leads to better endurance, increased physical performance and keeps your lungs and heart healthy. In addition, breathing exercises stimulate blood circulation. This has a positive effect on risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, leading to a lower risk of heart disease. In our article on pranayama you will find 3 breathing techniques for more puff in everyday life.
- Yoga can have a positive effect on your sex life: Yoga has a positive effect on many physical aspects. This includes the sexual organ and the hormones that are released during the act. In a study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine entitled "Yoga in Female Sexual Functions", 40 women who regularly went to yoga were scientifically followed for 12 weeks. They practised 22 different asanas, which mainly trained the abdominal muscles, improved digestion, strengthened the pelvic floor and lifted the mood. The result of the study was that yoga can promote arousal, desire, orgasm and general sexual satisfaction.
- Yoga ensures a restful sleep: After a busy and eventful day, yoga helps your body wind down in the evening. Certain exercises before sleep increase the release of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep and wakefulness. For example, the exercise "Viparita Karani" is particularly good. You lie on your back with your legs stretched out against the wall.
The Savasana Pose (dead posture) is also a wonderful way to wind down after a long day. You can even practise this exercise directly in bed. To do this, lie on your back, stretch your legs slightly open and place your arms outstretched beside your body, palms up. Breathe in and out deeply a few times and you will notice how your body relaxes considerably and is ready for the journey into your dreams.
At a glance, these positive effects yoga has on your body Yoga has effects on a wide variety of physical activities:
- Reduces stress hormones and activates your relaxation apparatus (parasympathetic nervous system)
- Promotes mobility Strengthens muscles and bones
- Balances circulation and metabolism
- Reduces inflammation and promotes regeneration
- Improves your sleep
- Increases your libido
In addition to the physical effects on our bodies, yoga also has a number of psychological effects. For example, regular yoga practice has a positive effect on your inner peace, mental strength and self-confidence.
What does yoga do to our psyche?
So yoga has an effect on our body. But what about the psyche? Does the tradition from India really make us happier and more serene people?
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Mindfulness works against anxiety and lethargy: The principle of mindfulness, which is deeply rooted in yoga, helps you to be present in the moment, even before you get out of bed. Focusing on the moment helps alleviate anxiety and helps you find a sense of inner peace.
Read our article: Exercises to help with the winter blues. But mindfulness not only helps you find peace, it also promotes healthy eating habits. You learn to appreciate food more, taste it more consciously and become more aware of its effect on your body. - Yoga enhances your concentration: Another area of yoga philosophy, dharana, is known to clear the mind and calm our senses. It teaches you to strengthen concentration and focus by directing your attention to an object, a mantra or a specific thought and dwelling there without wandering. For redirecting your focus after the lunch break, the eagle pose or the warrior, for example, are helpful. You can find instructions for both poses in our article "Positive energy through yoga in everyday life".
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Yoga makes you happy and provides emotional stabilityIn addition, various studies have shown that yoga supports the release of endorphins and neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters ensure well-being and the stimulation of our feelings of happiness. A Study proves, for example, that yoga increases the concentration of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-amino-butyric acid), which ensures a brighter mood.
But not only does yoga improve our mood, the practice also helps us to cope more easily with difficult events, such as a break-up, the next job interview or deciding on a new path in life. Yoga stimulates your emotional awareness and transforms apprehension into courage, indecision into positive decision-making skills and emotional instability into mental balance.
At a glance, these positive effects yoga has on your mindOn a psychological level, yoga helps you in the following ways:
- Reduction of stress and anxiety
- Developing healthy eating habits
- Strengthening concentration and memory
- Mood stability and emotional resilience
- Self-confidence and willpower
While the yoga practice strengthens physically and relaxes mentally, your mind is stimulated through meditation and reaches new heights.
The spiritual effect of yoga
Yoga serves to anchor us in our true nature. You explore your spiritual self and deal with the structure of your psyche from a yogic perspective. This means you look at all your relationships - with yourself, but also with your environment and your fellow human beings - and understand what makes you the person you are.
Yoga philosophy deals with topics that are relevant to every human being. Those who devote themselves to the spiritual teachings of yoga will discuss questions such as 'Who am I?' and 'Why am I here?' and eventually find more stability in their own existence and know what their purpose in life is. Those who are no longer afraid of the big questions in life are no longer afraid of life.
Note: To explore your spiritual self, you usually need years of discipline. You will feel the effects of your yoga exercises after the first class.
How long do I have to practise yoga before physical and psychological successes occur?
Every body is different and every style of yoga works differently. Nevertheless, there are some positive effects that can occur with regular practice.
Immediately after the yoga class:
- Improved brain activity (memory and focus)
- Relaxation effect (less stress hormones)
- More flexibility
After a few months of regular practice:
- Lowered blood pressure
- Improved lung capacity
- Improved libido
- Reduced chronic pain (e.g. especially neck and back pain).
- Less anxiety and more stable mood
- Balanced blood sugar level
With many years of yoga practice:
- Higher bone density
- Healthy eating habits
- Strengthened immune system
- Lower risk of heart disease
However, for these positive effects of yoga to take full effect, it is important that you never make yoga a chore. While it doesn't hurt to have a resolution to practice regularly, yoga should feel good and easy. That way, you won't want to stop.
Why can many yogis no longer imagine everyday life without yoga?
Through the informal but regular practice of yoga, the exercises have become an everyday activity for many yogis, like brushing their teeth in the evening before going to bed. It is an act of self-care and energy hygiene.
Yoga is a tool for self-reflection and balance and helps us to deal with challenges. We all experience ups and downs and Eastern philosophy teaches us to approach difficult situations positively and to cope with them calmly and confidently. With a daily practice, yogis feel firmly grounded in their bodies and views and are ready to face life's challenges.
It's all about balance
Just as there are hundreds of different styles of yoga, their effects on each yogi are also diverse. The basic yogic principle of inner balance also refers here to the interaction between body and mind. Physical, psychological and spiritual effects are therefore not to be considered separately, but as a whole. How you feel physically determines how you feel mentally and vice versa.
If you are attentive during your next yoga class, you will experience at least one effect directly: Yoga makes you feel good.
Make a resolution today to do at least 15 minutes of yoga... ... and don't forget your LUVIYO
