Yoga has been a popular practice for centuries, and with good reason. Yoga is not only great exercise but it also helps to improve many aspects of life such as stress levels, anxiety, depression, and more! In this blog post, I will be discussing the seven different conditions that yoga can help alleviate.
The 7 Health Conditions Yoga Can Help Alleviate
Yoga can help alleviate, or at least, reduce the symptoms of the following health conditions.
Mental Health Issues
Here, we are talking about issues like anxiety and depression. Yoga is helpful in these cases because it helps to induce a feeling of calm and relaxation, which can be especially important for those who struggle with anxiety or panic attacks. It has been shown that yoga can help reduce the symptoms of stress and tension as well.
Arthritis
This is another condition that yoga is great for. Not only can it help reduce arthritis symptoms, but it also helps to improve flexibility and strength in people who have been diagnosed with arthritis. The gentle movements of the poses that are used in yoga therapy put less stress on tendons, muscles, ligaments, and joints when compared to other sports or exercises.
Heart Disease
This is a common condition in the United States, and yoga can help not only with heart health but also with stress management. Yoga has been shown to lower blood pressure levels by decreasing epinephrine (adrenaline) secretion while increasing norepinephrine (noradrenaline). Epinephrine increases your rate of heart and breathing, while noradrenaline increases your heart rate. All of this can help to lower blood pressure levels by decreasing stress on the body as well as helping you to feel calm and relaxed.
Cancer
There is some evidence that yoga may be beneficial for those who have been diagnosed with cancer. Yoga has been shown to help improve quality of life, reduce stress levels and anxiety, and improve sleep quality. It can also help to increase physical activity levels and overall strength. However, more research is needed in this area before any definitive conclusions can be made.
Autoimmune Diseases
An autoimmune disease is a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells in the body. Yoga has been shown to help improve quality of life and decrease inflammation in people with autoimmune diseases. In particular, yoga has been found to be helpful for those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis.
Asthma
Yoga has been shown to help improve lung function and overall quality of life in people with asthma. It can also help to reduce the use of inhalers and other medications used to treat asthma symptoms. Yoga helps by improving strength, flexibility, and breathing control.
Digestive Disorders
People who suffer from digestive issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease have been shown to benefit from yoga. Yoga has a calming effect on the body which can help in these cases. It also helps by increasing strength and flexibility in muscles used for digestion, helping with the overall movement of food through the digestive system.
Do you suffer from any of these conditions? If so, consider giving yoga a try. You may find that it helps to alleviate some of your symptoms. And if you don't currently have any health issues, yoga can still be a great way to improve your overall health and well-being. I would love to hear your thoughts on yoga and these seven different conditions, so feel free to leave a comment below.
