More from 77 Surprising Benefits of Yoga by Meredith Walker.
As a form of exercise, yoga offers benefits that are sometimes not easily found among other exercise regimens.
Low risk of injury. Due to the low impact of yoga and the controlled aspect of the motions, there is a very low risk of injury during yoga practice compared to other forms of exercise.
44. Parasympathetic Nervous System: In many forms of exercise, the sympathetic nervous system kicks in, providing you with that fight-or-flight sensation. Yoga does the opposite and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic system lowers blood pressure and slows the pace of your breathing, which allows relaxation and healing.
45. Muscle tone: Consistently practicing yoga leads to better muscle tone.
46. Subcortex: Subcortical regions of brain are associated with well-being, and yoga is thought to dominate the subcortex rather than the cortex (where most exercise dominates).
47. Reduced oxygen consumption: Yoga consumes less oxygen than traditional exercise routines, thereby allowing the body to work more efficiently.
48. Breathing: With yoga, breathing is more natural and controlled during exercise. This type of breathing provides more oxygen-rich air for your body and also provides more energy with less fatigue.
49. Balanced workout of opposing muscle groups: As with all of yoga, balance is key. If a muscle group is worked in one direction, it will also be worked in the opposite direction to maintain balance. This balance results in a better overall workout for the body.
50. Non-competitive: The introspective and self-building nature of yoga removes any need of competition in the exercise regimen. With the lack of competition, the yogi is free to work slowly to avoid any undue injury as well as promote a more balanced and stress-free workout.
51. Joint range of motion: A study at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine indicated that joint range of motion was improved by participants who practiced yoga.
52. Eye-hand coordination: Without practice, eye-hand coordination diminishes. Yoga maintains and improves eye-hand coordination.
53. Dexterity: The strong mind-body connection and flexibility gained from yoga leads to grace and skill.
54. Reaction time: Research done in India shows that reaction time can be improved with specific yoga breathing exercises in conjunction with an already established yoga practice. The improvement was attributed to the faster rate of processing and improved concentration gained from yoga.
55. Endurance: Working the entire body, yoga improves endurance and is frequently used by endurance athletes as a supplement to their sport-specific training.
56. Depth perception: Becoming aware of your body and how it moves, as one does in yoga practice, leads to increased depth perception.”