Yoga is an ancient wellness practice rooted in Indian and Egyptian cultures. For thousands of years, the practice has been proven to positively influence individual’s holistic wellbeing. Developing a yoga practice can positively benefit multiple dimensions of wellness.
Let’s learn about the many benefits of yoga below:
Physical Wellness:
The physically well person gets an adequate amount of sleep and a balanced and nutritious diet, engages in exercise for 150 minutes per week, attends regular medical check-ups and practices safe and healthy sexual relations.
Yoga benefits the physical body through:
- Increased flexibility
- Increased muscle strength and tone
- Improved respiration, energy and vitality
- Maintaining a balanced metabolism
- Influences weight reduction
- Improves cardio and circulatory health
- Improves athletic performance
- Increases protection from energy
Folks interested in yoga for their physical wellness might consider the following yoga styles: Ashtanga, Power Vinyasa, Vinyasa, Slow Flow Vinyasa, Hatha
Emotional Wellness:
The emotionally well person can identify, express and manage the entire range of feelings and would consider seeking assistance to address areas of concern.
Yoga benefits emotional wellness through:
- Restoring energy, stimulates blood flow and releases endorphins
- Helping relieve depression
- Can help relieve anxiety by increasing resilience and stress-coping abilities
- Reducing stress and can increase a sense of control
- Creating better mind-body awareness
- Can enhance the mind-body connection, improving positive body image
- Increasing positive outlook on life
- Helps manage and decrease feelings of hostility
- Can improve social skills
Folks interested in yoga for their emotional wellness might consider the following yoga styles: Ashtanga, Power Vinyasa, Vinyasa, Slow Flow Vinyasa, Hatha, Restorative, Yin
Spiritual Wellness:
The spiritually well person seeks harmony and balance by openly exploring the depth of human purpose, meaning and connection through dialogue and self-reflection.
Yoga benefits spiritual wellness through:
- Increasing consciousness of self
- Teaching you to be okay with stillness
- Increasing connection to the universe and a higher sense of being
- Can lead to a broader sense of hope, well-being, love and inspiration within us
- Developing a stronger focus on the present
- Can increase individual and collective sense of purpose
- Improving intuitive wisdom
Folks interested in yoga for their spiritual wellness might consider the following yoga styles: Hatha, Restorative, Yin, Yoga Nidra, Meditation
Whether you are initially interested in yoga for the physical, emotional or spiritual benefits, over time it can improve all 3 of these dimensions in wellness in your life. If you’ve tried yoga and the past and it didn’t seem to work for you, maybe consider a different style of yoga.
References:
https://swc.osu.edu/about-us/nine-dimensions-of-wellness/
https://osteopathic.org/what-is-osteopathic-medicine/benefits-of-yoga/
https://www.yogashanti.lu/what-is-yoga/emotional-benefits-of-yoga
https://holisticmovementcenter.com/the-spiritual-benefits-of-yoga/
-Ivory Levert, Program Manager