7 proven benefits of Yoga and Meditation for your mind and body 

New Delhi: Yoga and meditation both have huge impacts on the mind and the body. When done on a regular basis, they not only make your physique more attractive, flexible and balanced but give you spiritual benefits as well. Mediation helps to keep the mind sharp, stress-free and clear. It improves overall well-being of a person.

Wanna know what all benefits yoga and meditation can give you? Here is a list of some of them:

Treats back pain

Believe it or not, doing a few yoga poses throughout the week can help with chronic back pain. Studies have shown that stretching exercises and poses improve spinal flexibility and help ease lower back problems in people after just one week of practice.

Helps with rheumatoid arthritis

Iyengar yoga, which is a type of yoga that uses blocks, belts, and other positioning props, has been shown to help people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Hot yoga, like Bikram and gentle yoga, has proven benefits because of its slow, easy-paced poses and movements that benefit the joints, bones, and muscles.

Cures hangovers

While you may not want to move or get out of bed when nursing a hangover, experts say that doing yoga can detox your system and get you feeling fresh much faster. Yoga poses like bow, plow, or shoulder stand work on the thyroid gland, which improves the metabolism and kicks those toxins out of your system. By reversing the blood flow and bringing more circulation to the brain, your body will create balance and spring back to life. Not only it helps to get rid of the hangover faster but also blasts the fat and cellulite.

Improves heart health

When it comes to heart health, Baby Boomers need to be wary and maintain a healthy lifestyle as much as possible. Keeping your heart healthy is easy, thanks to yoga and meditation. Studies have shown that yoga is linked to a reduced risk of heart disease because of its cardiovascular benefits that eliminate arterial plaque. Meditating once a day for ten minutes can help you relax, reduce stress hormones, lower your blood pressure, and allow for better blood flow.

Helps with asthma

If you suffer from asthma then you might want to take up yoga. According to a research, adults with mild to moderate asthma who did an eight-week session of yoga combined with their regular meds saw a marked improvement. With the help of Pranayama, a yoga asana which focuses on breathing have shown effective results for asthma.

Helps you sleep better

You need to get enough rest in order to live a healthy and balanced life. Yoga greatly improves your sleep quality if you are suffering from insomnia or lack of sleep. Research has shown that doing yoga regularly improves your sleeping pattern, reduces stress and lowers anxiety. Mediation and breathing techniques also help in clearing your mind so you can relax and slow down your thoughts, allowing you the peace of mind to get a good nights sleep.

Makes you a happier person

Practicing yoga and meditation makes you a happier person. Yoga makes your skin glow from within and calms your mind. Mediation gives you inner peace and the power to control your mind and thoughts. In todays competitive world, people forget to be happy. Give some time to yourself. Practice yoga and meditation, you will automatically feel the difference.

There are many more benefits of yoga and meditation - once you start practicing it, you will feel the change within yourself.

Sohan Singh is a guest contributor. Views expressed are personal.

Link:
7 proven benefits of Yoga and Meditation for your mind and body - Times Now