Yoga is an excellent practice that provides your physical and mental health with many benefits.
While it may seem intimidating for beginners, yoga can be very easy to practice, especially when you start with simple poses that don’t require a lot of flexibility.
In this article, we will briefly cover the benefits of yoga, then switch gears to the type of equipment you need before getting started.
The benefits of practicing yoga
Due to the variety of benefits offered by yoga, it can be challenging to summarize all of that in a shortlist.
For this reason, we opted for the most established health benefits.
Stress management
In one study, researchers concluded that yoga can dramatically lower the amount of cortisol in the blood.
While this hormone is indispensable for the function of your organs, it can lead to dire consequences when it’s elevated for a long time.
Moreover, yoga can induce the release of anxiolytic (i.e., anxiety-relieving) hormones, such as endorphins, promoting anxiety and stress relief.
Improves cardiovascular training
Heart disease takes the lives of millions of people every year. It has numerous risk factors, including:
- Advanced age
- Male gender
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Sedentary lifestyle
Studies demonstrated that people who practice yoga regularly are less likely to die from a cardiovascular event. When digging deeper, they found that yoga addresses many of the risk factors we listed above.
For instance, one study found that practicing yoga for at least five years lowers blood pressure in adults.
Improves mental health
Many people consider yoga the go-to practice when they are dealing with mental issues (e.g., depression, anxiety).
Several studies outlined the effects of yoga on the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the fight or flight reaction.
Furthermore, yoga promotes the secretion of a neurotransmitter known as GABA, which induces relaxation and inner peace.
In one meta-analysis, researchers analyzed 17,801 citations and 47 clinical trials that added up to 3,320 participants.
The results of the review showed a significant impact of yoga on stress levels and anxiety.
What do you need to get started?
One of the best aspects of practicing yoga is how simple and cheap it is to start.
Unlike other physical activities that require a ton of expensive equipment, you only need a mat and an outfit to start with the poses.
For better flexibility and body control, make sure to get some good-quality yoga pants (i.e., yoga leggings).
The yoga pants will help you get a better sense of your lower body, which aids in performing complex movements. Yoga leggings will also allow you to feel light and flexible.
Besides these elements, you are not likely to need other things, especially in the beginning.
Takeaway message
Yoga offers the body a variety of health benefits that impact your physical and mental health.
We hope that this article managed to shed some light on the importance of practicing yoga, as well as the equipment you need to start.
If you would like us to write about a particular topic on yoga, meditation, self love, essential oils, or any topic in the area of self-care please do not hesitate to ask in the comment section on our Instagram page: @happybeingwell
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