In recent years, we have all become more aware of the epidemic that obesity has become. It has inspired many people to get up and moving, and for 15 million Americans, yoga has become a part of their routine. With about 72.2% of those practicing yoga being women and 27.8% being men, yoga has great effects on your mind and body. This is part of the reason it has become so popular! Read on for a few ways taking up yoga can benefit you.


Better Overall Health


Wellness is defined as finding a balance of health in physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual senses. It’s also the top reason people take up yoga. Peace and calm is ranked as the second reason, followed by health at number three. Yoga and meditation help you become more self aware, and they can lead to a better overall sense of wellness.


Better Sleep


Because yoga forces you to focus on your breathing, in addition to stretching and relaxing your body, it can help you get better sleep! You can also employ the breathing techniques used in yoga to wake yourself up in the morning if that’s where you have trouble. The techniques can translate to numerous parts of your life, but sleep is perhaps the most helpful.


Decreased Stress


Leading a healthy lifestyle in general can help you to manage your stress, but yoga and meditation are especially helpful for this particular feat. With different breathing and relaxation techniques, it is the perfect combination to allow you to get a workout in while also focusing on your mind and body to reduce stress. Like with sleep, the breathing techniques you learn with yoga and meditation can be used in numerous area of your life. If you find yourself getting stressed throughout the day, take five minutes and go through a breathing exercise. You’ll notice the difference in your mood!


Have you ever practiced yoga? What did you think of it? Is it something you do regularly?