YOGA

Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India several thousand years ago. It involves a series of postures and movements, as well as controlled breathing and meditation, and is designed to promote physical and mental well-being.

There are many benefits of practicing yoga, including:

Reduce depression and improve mood: practicing yoga can reduce depression and improve mood in a number of ways.

Change levels of neurotransmitters in the brain: Yoga can change levels of neurotransmitters in the brain leading to a variety of health improvements

Better cardiovascular health: Yoga can help to improve cardiovascular health by increasing heart rate and improving blood circulation.
Improved flexibility and range of motion: Yoga involves a series of stretches and postures that can help to improve flexibility and increase the range of motion in the joints.
Improve insulin sensitivity: Yoga provides improvements in how body reacts to sugar.

Increased muscle strength and tone: Yoga involves the use of the body's own resistance to build strength and tone the muscles.
Improved respiration, energy, and vitality: The controlled breathing techniques used in yoga can help to improve respiratory function, increase energy levels, and promote a sense of vitality.

Weight management: The physical movements and postures involved in yoga can help to burn calories and manage weight.

Improved athletic performance: Yoga can help to improve balance, coordination, and agility, which can in turn improve athletic performance.
Stress management: Yoga can help to reduce stress and promote relaxation by calming the mind and the nervous system.
Pain Management: Yoga can reduce pain through several mechanisms.
Rebalances nervous system: Yoga quiets the sympathetic (Fight of Flight) system, and activates the parasympathetic (resting, heart rate, blood pressure, digestion) system, leading to improved physical and mental health.

Social wellbeing: Yoga practice is an individual, non-competitive activity. As a result it can decrease anxiety, and increase self-esteem and a sense of social belonging (which is also a determinant of improved mental and physical health).

We would like to thank Tom Janisch for sharing his very helpful and factual article with us on the benefits of Yoga. We will continue to offer his research and findings throughout the coming weeks. Tom is a dedicated member at the Healing Centre, and attends all our offerings...We are grateful for him in our community! Tom is awesome to have deep conversations and share stories with, about, yoga, philosophy, travel, cooking, restaurants, family....life....pretty much anything!