If you are interested in Yoga in Parramatta then you are in the right place! Over the last decade, numerous studies by some of the top health experts confirmed the massive health benefits of yoga. These studies only confirmed scientifically what ancient culture already knew through real life experience of a regular yoga practice.
Yoga has been around for more than 5000 years and started mainly for meditative use by Vedic priests. The practice of yoga was a way to connect body, mind and spirit and this soon spread to other religions and it quickly evolved.
The fundamentals of yoga have never changed though. The basic idea of connecting body, mind and spirit is still evident today in many modern yoga practices.
Yoga teachers have long promoted the many health benefits of yoga but its only in the last 20 years that it really took off in the western world.
Today, yoga is practiced by many top athletes as well as professionals, housewives and even children. The immense benefit from it both physically and mentally is undeniable.
Here are 7 amazing health benefits of Yoga that we strongly believe in here at Yoga in Parramatta.
1. Reduce Stress
Living in a busy city like Sydney, life can be very stressful. We all suffer from some level of stress and it is one of the biggest reasons why people suffer from poor cardiovascular health.
Yoga has been proven to reduce the body’s secretion of cortisol. Cortisol is the primary stress hormone and was designed to be released by the body in response to a flight-or-fight response.
The combination of breathing, relaxation and physical movement works in harmony to slow down the body and the mind.
2. Sleep Better
Poor sleep often goes hand in hand with being too stressed. Poor sleep can have immense consequences on both your physical and mental health. It has been associated with high blood pressure, obesity and even depression.
A study in 2005 found that people who practice Yoga regularly fall asleep faster, sleep longer and wake up more rested.
Yoga assists in the secretion of melatonin which is your body’s natural sleep hormone.
3. Improve Flexibility and Balance
Adding yoga to your fitness routine can have immense benefits. In fact, most professional sports now incorporate yoga in some shape or form to help athletes with flexibility and balance.
It doesn’t just work for athletes. In a recent study, 66 elderly participants started yoga and the results were startling. Their flexibility increased by a factor of four after just doing some very basic yoga for 15 – 30 minutes per day.
If you are stuck in your Parramatta office all day then breaking out for 30 minutes of yoga could be all you need to maintain a level of flexibility. A lot of little pains and niggles are the result of your muscles not stretching frequently.
4. Improve Breathing
Breathing is an important part of yoga and most yoga studios like our Parramatta yoga studio place a lot of emphasis on breathing.
Most people are in a habit of breathing poorly. Being hunched over in front of a desk does not promote healthy breathing habits. Breathing properly is incredibly important to your health and even your mood.
The yogic breathing (called Pranayama) techniques has been the subject of numerous studies and the benefits are immense. From improving your mood to increasing lung capacity and even reducing stress.
Deep breathing combined with movement and a calm body can do wonders for the way you feel. It is one of the main reasons why you feel so great after a yoga session. Your body has been fully oxygenated and it leaves you feeling energised and refreshed.
5. Increase Strength
While most people think yoga is all about lying on the floor and contemplating life, the opposite is true. Yoga can be great for increasing strength.
Many of the more advanced yoga poses are specifically designed to increase strength. A more active form of yoga can give you a very challenging workout – something often surprises a lot of gym junkies who only want to have hard workouts.
What makes conditioning with yoga different is that it helps you to build strength in a much safer and more natural way.
There are so many different levels of yoga and it can benefit almost anyone. For beginners, a hard workout through yoga is probably not recommended but as you build up some experience it can be as good as a full gym workout – with all the additional benefits.
Yoga also has a significant effect on anxiety and depression. Mental health has become a big deal in our stressed-out society. This is often even worse in cities where people have more financial and work stress.
Taking an hour a day 3 to 4 times a week for yoga can be life changing. Our yoga studio in Parramatta is very beginner friendly and welcomes all levels of experience. You can start wherever you are.
If you are concerned about many of the spiritual attachments that often come with yoga, then rest assured that this is not an issue. There are absolutely no religious connotations to our yoga practices and the main emphasis is always on mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.
If you are interested in starting or restarting Yoga in Parramatta, please reach out to us through the contact forms below or above this website.