3 Awesome Benefits Of Yoga: Volume 5

Immune System

The immune system has one job: to keep your body safe from germs, viruses, and other things that could be harmful to the body. It must remain running smoothly if you want to continue staying fit and healthy.

Yoga has long been rumored to be beneficial in improving the function of the immune system; but what evidence is there to show this?

Studies into the effects of yoga on the immune system are numerous and ongoing, but one way it can help is by reducing inflammation in the body, as stated in this research. Inflammation is a side effect of dealing with psychological stress and is harmful to our immune systems in the long run.

In this study, the effect of yoga on the immune responses of first-year MBBS students was tested. The students were split into two groups; one group practiced yoga on a weekly basis, whilst the other did not. After the examination test had been completed, results showed that the group who had practiced yoga had no negative physiological effects compared to the non-practicing group.

As mentioned in the study here, the sustained practice of yoga could have the potential to help those suffering from diseases with inflammatory components, too.

Circulation

Having good circulation is a vital component of a healthy lifestyle. Without it, people run the risk of developing a whole host of cognitive and physical problems, such as memory loss, difficulty concentrating, digestive issues, and fatigue.

Research shows that sitting down for long periods is one of the biggest culprits in contributing to bad circulation. In fact, it could increase the likelihood of us developing dementia in our old age, due to a decrease in the amount of blood flowing to the brain.

So the question is: could yoga help improve our circulation?

Seeing as yoga is predominantly made up of movement-based exercises, it seems probable that it would be of benefit. Yoga is useful because it is accessible to pretty much anyone, regardless of their age, physical fitness, or health. Furthermore, it is a low impact form of exercise which helps to reduce the risk of injury in older adults.

There is scientific evidence to back this up. In this study, the effects of yoga were tested on people suffering from cardiovascular disease (CVD). The results indicated that yoga could prove to be a promising avenue of improving cardio-metabolic health, with weight loss and improvements in circulation reported amongst the patients.

Blood Pressure

High blood pressure (or hypertension) is a very common health issue facing many adults over the age of 25. It is estimated that a staggering 1.3 billion people suffer from high blood pressure worldwide.

So, how can yoga help with high blood pressure?

There is a substantial amount of evidence showing that yoga helps with combating high blood pressure. It has been theorized that regular practice could help sufferers with the prevention of strokes, kidney disease, and heart problems.

For example, this study explains how a group of prehypertension patients were given 3 months of yoga practice and encouraged to adopt a healthier lifestyle. After the study had reached its conclusion, the patients all showed a modest decrease in their blood pressure levels.

Yoga could also prove effective at combating hypertension when practiced at home, according to this study. Furthermore, those suffering from hypertension are likely to experience additional benefits when practicing yoga, such as lower stress levels and a better quality of life.

References

New Research on How Yoga Boosts Your Immune System

Marilynn Wei M.D, J.D

Effect of integrated yoga practices on immune responses in examination stress - A preliminary study

Aravind Gopal, Sunita Mondal, Asha Gandhi, Sarika Arora, Jayashree Bhattacharjee

Yoga and immune system functioning: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

R.I. Falkenburg, C. Eising, M.L. Peters

What to know about poor circulation

Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D.O., written by Lana Burham

Sitting for long hours found to reduce blood flow to the brain

Bob Yirka

The effectiveness of yoga in modifying risk factors for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Paula Chu, Rinske A Gotink, Gloria Y Yeh, Sue J Goldie, MG Myriam Hunink

Hypertension

World Health Organization

Yoga reduces blood pressure in patients with prehypertension

European Society of Cardio

Impact of yoga on blood pressure and quality of life in patients with hypertension

Moa Wolff, Kristina Sundquist, Sara Larsson Lonn, Patrick Midlov