THE PERFECT TIME TO JOIN
50% OFF MEMBERSHIP

We use cookies to provide and improve our services. By using our site, you consent to cookies.

Cookie Image

These Are the Top 10 Physical Benefits of Yoga

The mental, emotional, and physical benefits of yoga are being acknowledged, accepted, and celebrated by our society more than ever before!

Just a quick #yoga search on Instagram offers up 75 MILLION posts – most of which showcase yogis of all shapes and sizes performing numerous forms of asana!

And while the physical practice is just one of the Eight Limbs of Yoga, the physical poses (or asanas) are still a significant part of the modern yoga practice.

While there are so many benefits to our beloved yoga practice, this article will highlight the top ten physical benefits of yoga. Read on!
 
 

Here Are 10 of the Best Physical Benefits of Yoga:

The physical benefits of yoga are plentiful, but here are the top 10.
 

1. Increased Muscular Strength

While a consistent yoga practice often gets recognized for improving flexibility, many overlook its ability to improve muscular strength as well. Poses like Down Dog and Plank, along with all the Warrior Poses build up muscle fibers to tone and strengthen your muscles.

And while many forms of physical fitness emphasize muscle strength, yoga balances both strength and flexibility. Yoga is a practice that creates balance (both mind and body) so we must remember to incorporate both if we want to maintain a sustainable practice to last us a lifetime.
 

 
 

2. Increased Flexibility and Mobility

Often the most recognized physical benefit of the practice is an increased range of motion in the tissues, joints, and muscles of the body. The yoga asana practice introduces a myriad of poses (forward bends, backbends, twists, hip openers, standing poses, supine poses, etc.) and all of these postures ask the body to form extraordinary shapes.

While yoga asana supports flexibility of the major muscle groups, joints, and tissues, what is often most evident is improved posture, increased range of motion in the joints, and less pain in the body.

Have you tried the Flexibility and Mobility Yoga Program on YA Classes?

Yoga Program
With Kelly Pender

 

3. Increased Bone Density

Through our study of human anatomy, it is already understood that weight-bearing exercises improve the density of your bones as you age.

A 2016 study performed over a 10-year period proved that a consistent yoga practice raised the bone density of the spinal column and the femur bones in its patients.

Poses like Down Dog, Plank, or the Warrior Poses strengthen our bones that are particularly vulnerable to osteoporosis and ultimately help us avoid bone loss in those areas as we age.
 

4. Injury Prevention

With improved muscular strength, stronger bones, and healthy joints, your body is more prepared to handle load and a healthier range of motion, thus preventing strained muscles and/or broken bones.

Furthermore, yoga introduces several balance postures, which improves coordination and prevents injury.

Curious to learn more? Here’s How to Prevent Injury When You Practice These 9 Common Yoga Poses
 

5. Improved Circulation and Blood Flow

Inversions, including beginner poses like Standing Forward Fold or advanced poses like Handstand, encourage blood flow from the legs and pelvis to the heart.

When blood gets pumped back to the heart, it gets an extra dose of oxygen from the respiratory function of the lungs. Improved circulation of your blood helps you feel more alive and may even help you appear physically younger than you actually are.

Well then, Here Are 10 Reasons to Do Inversions (In Case You Needed an Excuse)
 

6. Improved Metabolism and Digestion

You may be surprised to learn that the physical practice of yoga asana was originally designed for purification purposes.

One of the ancient yoga texts, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, introduces several cleansing practices including Mayurasana (or Peacock Pose) – a shape which attempts to stimulate purification, either through vomit, urine, or bowel movement.

Twists are also believed to stimulate and aid in the digestive process and while there is not much scientific evidence to back that up, asana was designed to “stoke the digestive fires” which certainly helps to get things moving in and out of the body.

Want more twists in your life? Practice These 9 Spinal Twists for Beginner to Advanced Yogis
 

7. Increased Energy

A well-rounded yoga asana practice revives, renews, and refreshes your mind, body, and spirit bringing prana (otherwise known as life-force energy) to your body.

While you may feel supremely relaxed after a yoga class, a consistent practice continues to gift you a new sense of vitality to your life off the mat.
 

 
 

8. Increased Sex Drive and Libido

Yes, its true! Testosterone gets released in both female and male bodies during a yoga practice inspiring us to get busy in the bedroom.

Whether you want to enjoy an orgasm by yourself or with a significant other, yoga primes you to enjoy a sensual release with pleasure post-practice.

Intrigued? Learn About 10 Yoga Poses That Increase Your Sex Drive (And Why)
 

9. Better Sleep

While a dynamic practice like Vinyasa helps to stimulate and boost energy levels in the body, the close of every practice encourages rest. Savasana, or Corpse Pose, is always performed at the end of every practice and supports us in the process of surrender.

Thus, yoga has been proven to improve sleep quality and to aid in insomnia. A study performed at Harvard Medical School in 2012 found that yoga can help to improve sleep among people suffering from chronic insomnia.

Having trouble sleeping? Legs Up the Wall Pose or Supported Savasana are perfect poses to practice before bed to help induce sleep.

Need some more yoga for sleep? Practice This 30-Minute Bedtime Yoga Sequence For Better Sleep (Free Class)
 

10. Improved Mood

In addition to all the physical benefits of yoga listed above, yoga asana supports a mindful way of life. Pranayama, or regulation of the breath, incorporated with the physical asana practice helps to calm the central nervous system.
 
 

There’s No Shortage of the Physical Benefits of Yoga!

Bottom line? While we already know that a yoga practice benefits us on a mental, emotional, and physical level, this top 10 list offers us enough reasons to keep up with our practice #everydamnday.

Discipline, or tapas, is key to reaping the rewards. Carve out at least 10 minutes of your day to sit, breathe, and move the issues around your tissues and improve your well-being. Your body will thank you!

Get started now! Take This 30-Minute Yoga Class to Reduce Stress (Free Class)

This article has been read 6K+ times. Feelin’ the love!

Comments

wonderful comments!

Here Are 9 Important Benefits of Yoga For Kids
From coping with challenges to gaining self-awareness, yoga for kids has a wide range of benefits. Learn more about the benefits of yoga for kids here.
Read »

Denelle Numis

Denelle Jarro Numis is an advanced yoga teacher (E-RYT 500) based in San Francisco, California. In addition to her yoga credentials, Denelle has a B.S., an MBA, a love of travel and an impassioned zest for life. To learn more about Denelle check out her website or follow her on Instagram.

denelleyoga.com

This Month's Letter
From the Editor

Monthly motivation and food for
thought from our founder.

READ THE LETTER
Mind, body & life wellness in your inbox.
iPhone

Get the
YA Classes App

No WiFi? No Problem! Download
classes and take them without an
internet connection.

2k+
Download YA Classes app on the Apple App Store
Download YA Classes app on the Google Play Store

Also available in Apple TV , Mac and Amazon apps.

Send this to a friend
Follow us on Close

Create Your FREE Account

Woohoo! You’re about to unlock unlimited articles, exclusive
community content, and select on-demand yoga and fitness classes.

OR USE THE FORM BELOW

Lost password?