The weather in Austin can scorch up an afternoon, sometimes leavings its citizens desiring cooler climates indoors rather than running around outside. On days like this, it is easy to forget about working out, especially if you don’t have a treadmill or are just feeling too “meh” to head out to the gym. On these hot summer Texan days, the answer to your workouts, meditation, and happiness can be rolling out your mat indoors.
Yoga is a remarkable tool for fitness, cardio, flexibility, and meditation. Whether you are new to the practice and afraid of losing your balance in crow, or a full-time yogi showing off your bird-of-paradise at happy hour, there are accessible health benefits for any yoga practitioner to access in any pose or any practice. Yoga helps strengthen our core, lift our hearts, while also silencing our busy minds and encouraging balanced wellness, both mentally and physically. Here are just a few seriously awesome health benefits that you can achieve from just rolling out your mat and getting into the yogic flow:
1. Stress and anxiety melts away
Yoga is not just about working out; it is about inviting health into every area of your life. The breathing practices of yoga encourage a variety of breath work, including deep and focused breathing. These controlled breathing practices can help you relax and melt away that tension that accumulates after a stressful day at work. Studies have shown that over 55% of yoga practitioners experience better sleep, which, of course, goes hand in hand with lower stress. So for all you University of Texas students and teachers, yoga can add a quick de-stressor to your busy days and actually increase focus and creativity.
Studies have shown that over 55% of yoga practitioners experience better sleep, which, of course, goes hand in hand with lower stress.
2. Weight loss
If you think yoga is all about relaxing and stretching, you will be pleasantly surprised that a variety of yoga practices can raise your heart rate and help you achieve a fun cardio workout. Focusing on breathing, increasing flexibility, posing, and moving unearths a new level of discipline in your mind and body, which can also encourage you on your weight loss journey. From rigorous Kundalini yoga that requires quicker breathing rates, as well as some hardcore vinyasa flows, yoga will get you up and moving which will protect your heart as well as speed up your metabolism.
3. Leaner Muscles
Who can help but notice yogis get up on their mats and do seemingly crazy, contorted, gravity defying poses and handstands? All of that work comes from working various muscle groups, everything from your shoulders to your core, from your glutes to forearms. Yoga may seem like it is about romantic poses, but it is all about the core work that brings your body in line with your mind and encourages power poses and Instagrammable shots. Therefore, a quick walk to Zilker Park for some cardio combined with some yoga in the park enjoying the sunshine and fresh air can strengthen your core, arms, and love of Austin.
4. Stronger immune system and healthy heart
With all that cardio and rigorous sun salutations, yoga can quite literally “open up your heart” and reduce a variety of heart issues, such as high blood pressure, bad cholesterol, and stress which are all factors for a risk of heart disease. Also, because yoga encourages gene expression at a cellular level, the benefits of yoga surprisingly include a boost in your immune system, leaving you strong armor to defend against winter time flus and colds.
5. Positive thinking
All yogic practices encourage deep breathing and keeping your mind in the present moment. By setting intentions before every practice, you can focus on your intention and witness how negative thoughts sometimes cloud your judgment. Because of the focus that yoga fitness and meditation encourage, yoga makes you more aware of your thoughts. When you are aware of your negative thinking you can understand your thought process and replace those thoughts with controlled breathing, and lower stress that creates negativity. With just a few breaths and a new outlook on life you invite optimism and positivity into your future.
Happy Yoga – From Mobile Developer Austin