The benefits of leading a yogi lifestyle

With many people choosing to exercise at home due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, practicing yoga has never been so popular. At last count, some 426,000 British people were taking part in yoga classes every week both online and in person, and this figure is growing.

If you haven’t been bitten by the yoga bug yet, there are a million and one reasons why you should make this age-old workout a part of your modern day routine. Here are just a few.

Keep calm and carry on

Stress affects everybody in one way or another. Whether it’s daily dramas that are getting you down or you suffer from depression or anxiety, yoga can help.

Practicing yoga on a regular, or even daily, basis works wonder for your mental health. It relaxes your body and mind so you are perfectly positioned to bust stress as and when it arises.

Yoga and the breathing techniques it involves are also hugely beneficial to those suffering from more severe symptoms and conditions associated with stress.

The positivity yoga promotes is advantageous for those struggling to deal with and balance their emotions.

Focus your mind

Staying focused is another challenge people encounter from day-to-day. When combined with meditation and breathing exercises, yoga can give you all you need to remain self-aware and fully focused so you can have a more productive and positive day.

Perfect your posture and flexibility

Great flexibility and yoga go hand-in-hand. Even first-time yogis that couldn’t touch their toes find greater flexibility and posture further along in their yoga journey.

Yes, those back-bending yoga poses that seem impossible now won’t be with regular practice!

Being more flexible is more beneficial to health than most people think. With greater flexibility comes less aches, pains and strains.

Being more flexible can relieve back pain. Even in old age, the flexibility and muscle strength that yoga unlocks can help to relieve arthritis and prevent falls. Your improved posture will also prevent back, neck, and joint issues.

Find relief for chronic conditions

Those with chronic health conditions should turn to yoga to discover all-natural, effective relief for troublesome symptoms. There’s a long list of chronic conditions and illnesses that are relieved by regular yoga practice.

Arthritis sufferers can find relief through yoga, whilst individuals with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can use yoga to manage this incurable condition the natural way. Check out these PCOS relieving yoga poses for inspiration.

Protect your body from within

As the saying goes ‘prevention is better than cure’, and yoga is a great preventative method that protects your body from within for the long term.

Every time you practice yoga, you’re subjecting your body to a complete range of movement. Through this cartilage, joints and your spinal disks will be kept mobile and supple.

The strength-building aspect of yoga also contributes to better bone health and increased blood flow to prevent issues like osteoporosis.

Detox and cleanse with every session

Detoxing your body shouldn’t be done through a fad juice diet. Practicing yoga regularly will provide all the detoxification you need to cleanse your body successfully.

With the removal of toxins comes many physical health advantages. You’ll find your digestion system runs more smoothly, you’ll be in a better position to lose and manage weight, and your immunity will be all the better for it too.

Yoga’s detoxifying effects will also show themselves on your skin, with yoga skin generally brighter, healthier, and naturally more beautiful.

Find out more about how to achieve yoga skin and the all-natural, nourishing skincare products that will help you along the way right here.

Embracing Ayurvedic principles in your everyday life is the perfect compliment to practising yoga regularly, and can unlock an even longer list of plus-points for your body, mind, and soul.

To get started, discover your Ayurveda body type by taking our dosha quiz.