There are many benefits you can get from practising Yoga daily. However, not many people practise Yoga nowadays due to their busy lifestyles. 

Let’s look at the study from Research Gate where it is mentioned that about 11.8% of the Indian population practised yoga in both rural and urban areas. 

We will be looking at how a regular practice of asanas can help you achieve a clearer mind, body, and spirit. So, let’s delve into the incredible effects of Yoga and how you can achieve holistic well-being with the help of skilled Yoga trainers from YogMahima, a school dedicated to learning and practising Yoga, meditation, and pranayama.

Taking Back 

• Yoga origins can be traced back to 5000 years ago in northern India.
• The word “Yoga” was first coined in the sacred texts called Rig Veda, derived from the Sanskrit ‘Yuj,’ meaning ‘to join’ ‘to yoke,’ or ‘to unite.’
• The Yogic lore considered Shiva as the first Yogi or Adiyogi and the first Guru or Adi Guru.
• The seals and fossils of the Indus Saraswati Valley civilisation talk about yoga.
• Sage Maharshi Patanjali systematised and codified the existing practices of Yoga. 
• Information about yoga is found in Vedas, Upanishads, Smritis, the teachings of Buddhism, Jainism, Panini, Epics, Puranas, etc.

The Current Scenario of Yoga in India 

• According to a study from NIH, it is revealed that 11.8% (13,336/112,735) of people practice yoga. That means about 88.2% (99,399/112,735) of people in India do not practice yoga. Let’s further break it down: from among the population practising yoga, about 7010/112.735 males and 6233/112,735 females are practising yoga.
• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has declared 21st June as International Yoga Day in 2014.
• To bring Yoga to the global consciousness, India has organised events such as Ocean Ring of Yoga and Yoga from the Arctic to Antarctica.
• The recognition of yoga has boosted the Indian Tourism Sector, making it a sought-after destination for yoga retreats and wellness tourism. 
• Formation of the new approach, the Ministry of Ayush introduces yoga certification in yoga training and skill development. 
• Yoga was introduced in the school curriculum via the New Education Policy 2020.
• The launch of the Namaste Yoga App allows people to access all kinds of information about yoga with ease. 
• In university, yoga courses were introduced as a sports discipline.
• The centre has introduced the ‘Yoga at Office Chair’ to help relax, rejuvenate, and enhance concentration.

The Effects of Yoga on Your Mind, Body, and Spirit

When we talk about achieving holistic health through yoga practices, there are various benefits that we can get from daily practice. Today, let’s unravel one by one the Yoga practice benefits on our minds, body, and souls!  

The Benefits of Yoga for Mental Health 

1. Yoga for Stress Relief

According to reports from IndiaToday, it is found that 30.4 per cent of Indians are distressed and struggling with their mental health. 

Let’s look at the reports by systematic research given to PTC news. According to their survey, there are about 243 million teenagers in India, and about 0.48 to 29.40% of teenagers suffer from psychiatric illnesses. 

So, a regular practice of Yoga helps in promoting relaxation because it reduces the stress hormones while increasing the production of endorphins. 

2. Improves Concentration 

Nowadays, it is so hard to control our minds from wondering due to constant distractions. Practising Yoga daily allows you to control your mind from wandering, helping you to direct your mind in the right direction. Yoga can help you improve your concentration level, allowing you to achieve the goals you set. 

3. Yoga Reduces Negativity and Increases Dopamine

At some point in life, we all face both these emotions: the feeling of happiness and sadness. Life is hard, and to always find happiness in the things we do can be extremely hard. However, you can achieve positive effects of yoga if you practice daily. 

From an article published by Forbes, it is shown that yoga boosts the mental health of employees, helping them to achieve their career goals while still reducing stress and increasing happy hormones. 

Physical Benefits of Yoga 

1. Boosts Your Immune System 

If we have a weak immune system, we can become victims to many foreign elements like viruses, bacteria, and other elements. According to new research published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, it is suggested practising yoga can enhance your immune system, decreaseing inflammation in your body.

You can practice Dhanurasana and Tadasana Yoga for physical health as they enhance blood circulation and the neurological system, boosting flexibility and the digestive system. 

2. Benefits Expecting Mothers and Menstrual Cramps 

Pregnancy can be the happiest at the same time, a stressful time for expecting moms with a rollercoaster of emotions. So, it is crucial for pregnant women to take a step towards their mood swings, stress and even depression through prenatal yoga sessions. 

A Pilot study conducted on 16 pregnant women who do prenatal yoga found that Yoga has a better effect on living conditions and self-efficiency for physical activity, including prenatal care.

So, YogMahima has prenatal or Pregnancy classes to help you during your pregnancy, where you will be trained by a skilled Yoga instructor. Many women face menstrual cramping, and doing yoga can work as a pain-relieving strategy. 

3. Reduce Weight 

According to the 2022 review of disease published by Forbes, found in 22 studies indicated that yoga helps in reducing body weight, fat counts in your body and waist circumference in people who are suffering from obesity. 

You can go ahead with hatha, Bikram, Iyengar and vinyasa to gain the physical benefits of yoga from practising it on a daily basis. When you practice yoga, it increases your metabolic rate which helps you to shed those fats away. 

Yoga for Spiritual Benefits 

1. Awakens Your Kundalini 

Have you ever experienced where you felt a very negative vibe from a person?

Here’s the thing: your energy is the combination of your past, present, mindset, and how you perceive your perception of life. So, this energy you manifest and is felt by people around you. One of the beliefs about the effect of Yoga is that it can awaken your Kundalini energy, which is at the base of your spine. 

2. Allows You to Accept Oneself

We are never happy about the way we are and always think of if ‘I were that or this’. However, daily practie of Yoga helps you to accept your whole being for the way you are. 

An article published by Harvard on their Health Blog stated that yoga can help you come to terms with who you are, providing a sense of satisfaction in the long run. 

3. Boosts Emotional Intelligence

According to a study, it is mentioned that yoga helps in boosting your emotional intelligence, allowing you to behave more sensitively to how others feel. 

We humans are social beings, and we cannot live without having social interactions. Having good emotional intelligence allows you to have better and more genuine connections with the people around you. 

Also Read: Discover the Best Yoga Poses for Lower Back Pain

What Experts Say About Yoga Sessions for Beginners 

In the news published in the Times of India, according to the Faculty of Orthopaedic Department of KGMU, Prof. Shah Waliullah talks about how many people misunderstand the physical demands of some of the Yoga asanas. Without prior knowledge or instruction from Yoga instructors, some push their body limit, leading to muscle strains, ligament sprains, dislocations, and even fractures. He also mentioned about 3 out of 4 people suffer from injuries from during difficult asanas. 

So, Yoga Expert Pranjali Singh talks about how beginners need professional trainers. She recommends beginners start with light asanas and Mudras to focus on building a strong foundation and then slowly advance to the hard asanas. 

Experience holistic health through yoga with the help of Yoga instructors from YogMahima, from performing traditional Hatha to the vigour of Ashtanga yoga, meditation and pranayama.

YogMahima is a sanctuary for individuals like you who are looking to experience the positive effects of yoga physically, mentally, and spiritually. You can sign up for a holistic journey to find physical, mental, and spiritual tranquillity with our diverse Yoga sessions and classes offered at our school. Begin today with a light Yoga and mindfulness of what you are experiencing and your intention! 

FAQs 

1. What does yoga do for mind, body, and soul?

There are positive effects of Yoga you can achieve when you practice daily, allowing you to achieve better concentration levels, reduce stress, negative, boosting your immune system and emotional intelligence and also help pregnant ladies and women during menstruation. 

2. Can the effect of yoga mean emptying your mind?

With a constant distraction, you can achieve the mental benefits of yoga, which allows you to enhance your concentration and focus while at the same time creating a sense of mind-body connection by increasing happy hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. 

3. Which Yoga has the most benefits?

Vinyasa yoga is considered one of the most beneficial yoga as it has lots of positive physical gain. It helps in gaining more flexibility, balance and strength and increasing your stamina and endurance. 

4. What should I avoid after Yoga?

Soon after your Yoga session/classes, avoid showering, eating, or drinking for 30 minutes. Consult with an instructor before doing Yoga asanas, and in case of injury or sprains, avoid performing yoga postures. If you are a beginner, avoid doing strenuous yoga. 

5. Can Yoga reduce belly fat?

Yes! The beneficial effect of Yoga is it can help you to reduce belly fat as it boosts your metabolic rate, which results in burning off the fat cells in your body. However, understand that it is a holistic approach and not just an asana targeting weight loss.