The benefits of Yoga

By: Lucía Vázquez

(iMujer Otra Medicina)

Yoga is not a sport. It involves much more than physical exercise: also a mental and spiritual wellbeing. Practicing yoga allows us to be healthier in every way, avoiding many problems and diseases from the first moment we took a class.

After a class

After your first yoga class you will improve your brain function: Just 20 minutes can increase your cognitive ability, concentration and memory. Decreases stress in the body, which also generates a smaller building proteins responsible for inflammation. And last but not least, a Norwegian study says yoga can alter gene expression in immune cells, allowing us to be more protected against diseases.

After a few months

After a few months of practicing yoga regularly, we note that our blood pressure is lower, especially if you suffer from moderate hypertension. The difference is also seen with other sports such as walking.

Research has found that, after practicing yoga for 15 weeks, it significantly improves lung capacity allowing to reach the maximum amount of air in the lungs after inhalation.

Yoga may also be good for your sexual health: increases arousal, desire, orgasm and sexual satisfaction. In women, yoga helps us to rediscover our sexuality.

Reduces chronic neck pain and back with just a month of practice.

 After a few years

If you have spent years practicing yoga, the body changes are large and very beneficial: you will reach old age with strong bones, as it prevents the loss of bone density. Not only avoids losing bone minerals, but we gain more by practicing yoga for at least two years. Besides, it helps us along life when we need to lose weight and stay in appropriate levels of body mass, regardless of how old we are. And yoga is part of a healthy life, reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, keeping the heart healthy by lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and controlling blood sugar levels.