Member-only story
Health and Fitness
Yoga Practices to Improve Your Daily Life
Here’s how to reduce stress and increase concentration, flexibility, and strength
Do you want a way to reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus and concentration, and find balance in your life? If so, you might benefit from making yoga your new pastime.
I’ve been a yoga fan for years, albeit intermittently regarding doing yoga poses. It’s better to maintain a consistent yoga practice. However, whenever I indulge, I wonder why I let it slip for so long. I also do daily qigong, something I never miss, and enjoy some benefits that overlap with yoga poses.
Yoga reduces the stress response signals in the body and brain. It can also increase activity in areas of the brain associated with concentration and focus. This is especially so if you add new poses to your routine or switch them every few days.
Consistent yoga improves posture and reduces pain from sitting too much or hunching over a computer. Something many of us suffer from. Additionally, it increases strength and flexibility in the body.
It consists of breathing exercises, meditation, and different poses (also referred to as asanas). Each pose offers benefits — like opening up your airways or increasing strength in your arms.
Ultimately, yoga can be a way of life rather than a once-a-week practice.
Most courses, if you choose to go this route, begin with light stretching, followed by various poses coordinated with guided breathing exercises.
Yoga basics
The word “yoga” comes from Sanskrit and roughly translates to “union” or “connection.” Yoga has existed for about 5,000 years and has its roots in Hinduism.
It is a mental, physical, and spiritual practice that balances the body and mind. It’s often described as a lifestyle that promotes health, healing, and well-being through mindfulness.
The various styles of yoga are Hatha, Iyengar, Kripalu, Kundalini, Vinyasa, and others. The benefits include stress reduction, improved strength and flexibility, and better sleep.
