Not Just a Workout

Have you been craving a way to move your body that isn’t just about results? When’s the last time you felt deeply connected to your body, mind, and soul during a workout? Yoga provides an excellent escape into the self, spreading awareness into your muscles while also strengthening the mind. Here are some benefits of yoga that extend beyond the mat.

Relieve Stress and Anxiety 

Controlled breathing during yoga, also called pranayama, is known to improve the health of your lungs and heart. A study has found that practicing yoga has improved the lung functioning and symptoms of those with asthma. Not only this but connecting with your own breath and taking time out just to be present with your body has been shown to relieve stress and anxiety as well as symptoms of PTSD.

Increase Strength

Especially when combined with another exercise, yoga is a great way to see improvements in your bodily strength. There are poses that target and engage specific muscles to build and strengthen them. Holding these poses increases your endurance and flexibility over time. Yoga also improves your balance, which helps with your mobility as you age.

Improve Eating Habits

At the core of yoga is an emphasis on mindfulness. The presence of mind that comes from practicing yoga often carries over into other aspects of a person's life, including into the kitchen. Studies have shown that people who practice yoga for mind and body Bainbridge Island WA feel encouraged to eat healthy foods and develop better eating habits.

The benefits listed here only scratch the surface of what yoga can offer. There are countless other internal, spiritual gains that happen when you consciously connect the mind and body. Why not roll out your mat and see what yoga can do for you in your life?