Over thousands of years ago, yoga was developed in India to promote aspects of wellbeing, such as physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. Yoga has now developed into raising quality of life and has expanded into fitness, stress relief, wellness, mental clarity, peace of mind, and much more! With the incorporation of physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation, studies have shown yoga to provide a wide range of benefits.
According to the National Institutes of Health (2009), adults who practiced yoga
86% said it reduced stress
67% said it helped them feel better emotionally
63% said it motivated them to exercise more regularly
59% said it improved sleep
82% said it improved overall health and made them feel better
Mentally: one study showed yoga reduced psychological distress, improved overall mental health, increased positive experiences, and increased measures of flourishing and resilience (de Manincor et al., 2016).
Physically: another study showed a decrease in body fat percentage and waist circumference, increase in hamstring flexibility, and abdominal endurance (Shiraishi, Gadelha, Bezerra, & Porto, 2017) with the incorporation of yoga.
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