Health Benefits of Yoga
Physiological Benefits of Yoga
- Stable autonomic nervous system equilibrium, with a tendency toward parasympathetic nervous system dominance rather than the usual stress induced sympathetic nervous system dominance.
- Pulse rate decreases.
- Respiratory rate decreases.
- Blood pressure decreases (of special significance for hyporeactors)
- Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) increases.
- EEG – alpha waves increase (theta, delta and beta waves also increase during various stage of meditation)
- Cardiovascular efficiency increases
- Respiratory efficiency increases (respiratory amplitude and smoothness increase, tidal volume increases, vital capacity increases, breath – holding time increases).
- Gastrointestinal function normalizes
- Excretory functions improve
- Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase
- Posture improves
- Strength and resiliency increase
- Endurance increase
- Energy level increases
- Weight normalizes
- Sleep improves
- Immunity increases
- Pain decreases
Psychological Benefits
- Somatic and Kinesthetic awareness increase
- Mood improves and subjective well-being increases
- Self-acceptance and Self-actualization increase
- Social adjustment increases
- Anxiety and depression decrease
- Hostility decreases
Psycho Motor Benefits of Yoga
- Psychomotor function improve
- Grip strength increases
- Dexterity and fine skills improve
- Eye-hand coordination improves
- Choice reaction time improves
- Steadiness improves
- Depth perception improves
- Balance improves
- Integrated functioning of body parts improves
Cognitive Benefits of Yoga
- Cognitive function improves
- Attention improves
- Concentration improves
- Memory improves
- Learning efficiency improves
- Symbol coding improves
- Depth perception improves
- Flicker fusion frequency improves
Biochemical Benefits
The biochemical profile improves, indicating an anti-stress and antioxidant effect, important in the prevention of degenerative diseases.
- Glucose decreases
- Sodium decreases
- Total cholesterol decreases
- Triglycerides decreases
- HDL cholesterol increases
- LDL cholesterol decreases
- VLDL cholesterol decreases
- Cholinesterase increase
- Catecholamines decrease
- A TPase increases
- Hematocrit increase
- Lymphocyte count increases
- Total white blood cell count decreases
- Thyroxin increases
- Vitamin C increase
- Total serum protein increases