Over the last few decades, there has been an upsurge in the prevalence of yoga. Medical professionals and celebrities are also adopting and recommending the regular practice of yoga due its various benefits. While some regard yoga as simply one more prevailing fashion and associate it with the new age mysticism, others vouch for how astonishing this form of exercise feels. What they don't understand is that what they see as simply just another form of exercise will profit them in ways they never envisioned.

Before we get into the benefits of Yoga, it is essential to understand what exactly Yoga really is. Yoga is not a religion, it’s a way of living that aims towards a healthy mind in a healthy body. Man is a physical, mental and spiritual being; Yoga helps in developing the balance between all the three as stated in  Ayurveda in India. Other forms of exercise, like aerobics, only assure physical wellbeing. These exercises have very little to do with the improvement of spiritual or astral body.

Yoga is not just about bending or twisting the body and holding the breath. It is a technique to bring you into a state where you see and experience reality simply the way it is. If you enable your energies to become exuberant and ecstatic, your sensory body expands. This enables you to experience the whole universe as a part of yourself, making everything one, this is the union that yoga creates.

The founder of Yoga, Patanjali stated, "Sthiram sukham asanam." It implies that a posture that appears to be firm and agreeable is your asana. You may be astounded to know that an asana is just a preliminary step into the act of yoga. It is a way that encourages you to achieve the greater good. Yoga focusses on idealizing concordance between your mind, body, and soul. When you adjust yourself so everything functions brilliantly within you, you will draw out the best of your capabilities.

Importance Of Yoga

The perfect unison can be achieved through Hatha Yoga and its various branches (Ashtanga Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Yin Yoga, Kundalini Yoga), depending on what you like and the problems you are looking to tackle through the practice.

Some Of The Advantages Of Yoga Are As Follows:

• Improves brain function
• Lower stress levels
• Alters gene expression
• Increases flexibility
• Lowers blood pressure
• Improves lung capacity
• Relieves anxiety
• Relieves chronic back pain
• Lowers blood sugar in diabetics
• Improves sense of balance
• Stronger bones
• Healthy weight
• Lowers risk of heart diseases

Yoga as a practice has innumerable benefits that positively affects an individual both physically and mentally. Whether it is reducing your blood pressure or raising your pain tolerance, listed below are a few things that yoga works on:

• Enhanced Circulation:
  Yoga improves your blood circulation. This means better transportation of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. Improved blood flow also indicates healthier organs and glowing skin.
• Improves Posture:
  Yoga teaches how to control and how to balance. With regular practice, your body will automatically assume the right stance. You will look both confident and healthy.
• Uplifts your mood:
  Practicing yoga on regular basis uplifts your mood instantly as it leaves your body with refreshing energy.
• Lowered Blood Pressure:
  Practicing yoga on daily basis enhances the blood circulation in the body. This enables oxygenation in the body due to which there is a significant reduction in the blood pressure as the body calms down.
• Keeps Premature Aging at Bay:
  Why not age gracefully and not before time? Yes, yoga helps you detox and eliminate toxins and free radicals. This, apart from other benefits, helps delay aging too. Yoga also relives stress which is yet another factor that beats aging.
• Reduces Stress:
  When you are on your yoga mat, you focus on the practice. This means that all your focus is concentrated on the matter at hand, and your mind slowly drains out the stress and troubles that are plaguing it.
• A Drop in The Pulse Rate:
  Yoga eases the body by reducing the strain. When the body relaxes, the pulse rate decreases. A low pulse rate indicates that your heart is strong enough to pump more blood in a span of fewer beats.
• Increases Strength:
  You use the weight of your own body to increase your strength. This is a very bewildering method of strength training.
• Anxiety Management:
  A little twisting, bending and controlled breathing helps you overcome anxiety.
• Better Cardiovascular Endurance:
  Yoga improves oxygenation in the body and also lowers the heart rate. This results in higher cardiovascular endurance.
• Lowered Respiratory Rate:
  Yoga involves a whole lot of controlled breathing. It entails filling your lungs to their full capacity, thus allowing them to work more efficiently.
• Fights Depression:
  When you practice yoga, repressed feelings surface. While you may feel sad, the negative energy is released. This helps to combat depression.
• Teaches Balance:
  Yoga also focusses at improving balance and also allows you to gain control over your body. Regular practice of yoga will enhance your ability to balance the poses in the class and focus well outside the class.
• Stimulation of Organs:
  The internal organs are massaged when you practice yoga, thereby increasing your resistance to diseases. Also, once you are attuned to your body, after years of practice, you will be able to tell instantly if your body doesn’t function properly.
• Increased Immunity:
  Yoga and Immunity go hand in hand. As yoga works towards healing and enhancing every cell in the body, your body automatically becomes more immune. Thereby, increasing your immunity.
• Instills Full Body Awareness:
  Practicing yoga on regular basis will help you become aware of your own body. You will begin to make subtle movements in order to enhance your alignment. With time, yoga helps you to become comfortable in your own skin.
• Improvement in Gastrointestinal Health:
  Practicing yoga regularly activates the digestive system and the other stomach related diseases like indigestion and gas are eliminated. Therefore, gastrointestinal functions improve in both men and women.
• Increasing Core Strength:
  It is essential to understand when your core is strong, your body is strong. Your core holds the weight of your body. It helps in increasing your resistance to injuries and also help you heal better. Yoga works on the core and makes it healthy, flexible and strong.
• Higher Levels of pain Tolerance:
  Yoga increases the level of pain tolerance and also works towards reducing chronic pain.
• Increased Metabolism:
  Yoga keeps the metabolism in check since a balanced metabolism is essential to achieve ideal weight.
• Improved Sexuality:
  Yoga increases your self-confidence and offers complete relaxation and more control. This gives your sexuality a much-needed boost.
• Renewed Energy:
  Yoga has the ability to make your mind and body feel rejuvenated. People who perform yoga on daily basis feel energized after a session of yoga.
• Improves sleep:
  Yoga helps you relax your mind completely. It helps you work on unnecessary tensions, thus facilitating better sleep.
• Integrated Function of the Body:
  Yoga means unison. When you practice yoga on regular basis, your mind starts to work in union with your body. This enhances movement and grace.
• Allows- Self Acceptance:
  Yoga enables self-awareness and betterment of health. Your self-esteem improves, and you become more confident.
• Builds Self – Control:
  The controlled movements of yoga teach you how to render that self-control to all the aspects of your life.
• Brings about a Positive Outlook to Life:
  Many hormones in the nervous system are stabilized when yoga is practiced on the regular basis. This helps you becomes more positive and you tend to look at life with refreshed and positive perspective.
• Reducing Hostility:
  When yoga is performed on the regular basis, the anger is greatly controlled. The breathing and meditation calm the nervous system, thereby decreasing anger and hostility. Reduction in hostility means reduction in blood pressure. This automatically enables a stress free and healthier approach towards life.
• Better Concentration:
  Performing yoga every day will eventually result in better concentration and in less than eight weeks of yoga practice, you will find yourself more motivated.
• Tranquility and Calmness:
  The breathing and meditation enables you disengage from your thoughts. This helps you calm down. With everyday yoga practice, you will notice how the calmness is no longer just a part of your practice – it becomes a way of life!

Yoga transforms your life and broadens your horizons in ways you can never imagine. It is absolutely worth trying!