BEYOND THE POSE: WHAT IT REALLY DOES FOR YOU
With thousands of years of history, yoga which originated from India, is a mind and body practice well-known for its poses and postures. Utilising the breathing techniques, meditation and stretching, yoga helps us to achieve higher consciousness and self-regulation. Apart from the act of folding yourselves into a human pretzel and carrying out poses with high flexibility, there is certainly more to yoga. Different types of yoga bring different benefits to your body and it is important to have a goal in mind while picking the right yoga to lift the weight off your shoulder.
6 Benefits Of Yoga
The mental benefits yoga can bring to our mind and body have been amplified all over the internet, books and magazines. Often, people might have the misconception that yoga only has the ability to help us build a stronger mental health but what about the physical benefits it can give us?
1. Releases Tension In Our Key Joints
Being deskbound for long hours throughout the day can cause tension in your neck, shoulders and back.
Yin Yoga is a slow-paced yoga session which requires you to hold poses for a relatively long time, allowing you to stretch your primary connective tissues to relieve the aches and tensions in your key joints.
On top of that, during the session, you will be able to cultivate a deeper sense of awareness and understand how you can release stress from your body as well as mind to feel more relaxed, calm and centred.
2. Helps With Migraine
As you get busy, you might skip your meals and increase your intake of caffeine to help yourself stay focused throughout the day. When it gets quiet at night, the thoughts and stress start to crawl in, causing you to have insufficient sleep.
All these factors are in fact some common triggers to the terrible migraine you have experienced in the past. Healthline stated that in a 2007 study whereby 72 patients were divided into two groups – a yoga therapy and a self-care group for over a period of 3 months, patients who practiced yoga have experienced a reduction in their headache intensity, frequency and pain as compared to those in the self-care group.
Though migraines are known to be relieved traditionally by medication, it is no doubt that yoga is another great alternative to help with this recurring headache.
3. Improves Strength and Cardiovascular Fitness
The effects of yoga might not be immediate for some but practicing yoga, in the long run, might be effective in improving your flexibility, balance, blood circulation and strength. By having better mobility, the likelihood of getting injuries and sprains can be reduced during your physical activities.
In addition, yoga can also bring great improvements to your cardiovascular fitness as the oxygen intake in your blood increases through the breathing exercises carried out during a session of yoga.
4. Helps You To Sleep Better
Counting your 1000th sheep and still wide awake? It’s probably time to start practising some Gentle Yoga before hitting the sheets.
It is recommended to carry out at least 15 minutes of simple yoga-like poses such as the neck rolls and shoulder rolls, to help relax and loosen your muscles before bedtime for a good night’s sleep. In addition, poses such as the reclining butterfly which works your hips and inner thighs as well as the supine twist which works your neck, back and legs, are effective in helping you fall asleep at a faster rate.
5. Improves Your Digestion
Diarrhoea, constipation and abdominal pain are a few symptoms of the irritable bowel syndrome. Instead of reaching for that medicine, get into position for some yoga, which might help with easing constipation as the movement of the body speeds up the transportation of food and waste products through the bowels.
6. For A Better Posture
Poor posture such as slouching can cause muscle tension, pain in the back and joint as well as lead to breathing issues and fatigue. On top of that, poor posture can also affect your overall image and presentation. Hence, to stand out confidently from the crowd, having a good posture is important.
Shape shared that by following a steady yoga regimen, the ligaments, tendons and muscles of your body will lengthen while simultaneously building up your body’s strength, resulting in a better posture and spinal alignment. Apart from improving our posture, yoga can also help in reducing back pain.
Though yoga is a low-impact exercise which can bring many benefits to us both physically and mentally, beginners are advised to avoid extreme poses and difficult techniques such as the headstand, lotus position and forceful breathing.
A pregnant woman or anyone with medical conditions such as high blood pressure should also seek advice from their healthcare practitioners before practising yoga.
Last but not least, ensure that you hydrate yourself well before the session and allow at least 2 hours of rest time after a meal, before attending the classes to avoid any discomfort.
Find your zen with us today and bring out your best self! Committed to promoting and supporting the integrity and diversity of the teaching of yoga, Fitness First Asia is a registered yoga school approved by the Yoga Alliance USA since 2007.
Designed to suit everyone, our yoga classes aim to promote a sense of wellbeing and fitness through your whole body by providing you with guidance on how to reduce the stress and tension that comes with a fast-paced, modern life.
Fitness First understands that each individual has different needs and this is why we provide you with a myriad of yoga classes to help you choose the best out of it all.
Check out our yoga classes to find the one that suits you most to achieve a healthy mind and body.
REFERENCES:
1. Shape Singapore. 2019. The Ultimate Beginner’S Guide To Yoga | Shape Singapore. [online] Available at: https://www.shape.com.sg/fitness/beginners-guide-yoga/ [Accessed 3 June 2020].
2. Medicalnewstoday.com. 2018. Yoga: Methods, Types, Philosophy, And Risks. [online] Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/286745#risks-and-side-effects [Accessed 7 June 2020].
3. Healthline. 2017. 13 Benefits Of Yoga That Are Supported By Science. [online] Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/13-benefits-of-yoga#section11 [Accessed 4 June 2020].
4. Health Hub. 2020. Headache And Migraine. [online] Available at: https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/649/headache-and-migraine [Accessed 7 June 2020].
5. ActiveSG. n.d. Five Benefits Of Yoga. [online] Available at: https://www.myactivesg.com/Sports/Fitness-and-Wellness/How-To-Play/Fitness-and-Wellness-facts/Five-benefits-of-Yoga [Accessed 3 June 2020].
6. Capetta, A., 2018. 11 Natural Insomnia Aids That Will Give You Sweet Dreams | Everyday Health. [online] EverydayHealth.com. Available at: https://www.everydayhealth.com/sleep-pictures/0708/8-cheap-and-natural-insomnia-remedies.aspx [Accessed 9 June 2020].
7. Shape Singapore. 2016. These Yoga Poses Will Help You Sleep Better Tonight! | Shape Singapore. [online] Available at: https://www.shape.com.sg/health/these-yoga-poses-will-help-you-sleep-better-tonight/?slide=3 [Accessed 9 June 2020].
8. The Singapore Women's Weekly. 2015. 10 Ways Yoga Can Help Improve Every Woman's Life + Win A Free Yoga Membership! - The Singapore Women's Weekly. [online] Available at: https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/gallery/beauty-and-health/ways-yoga-help-improve-womans-life-free-membership/ [Accessed 9 June 2020].
9. Mayo Clinic. 2018. Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Symptoms And Causes. [online] Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/irritable-bowel-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20360016#:~:text=Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is,need to manage long term. [Accessed 9 June 2020].
10. Healthline. 2019. Slouching: 8 Easy Ways To Improve Your Posture. [online] Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/slouching#benefits-of-good-posture [Accessed 9 June 2020].
