Yoga poses are great to strengthen and relax the body, however there's a lot more to Yoga than that. Derived from the Sankrit word ‘Yuj’ which means ‘to unite or attach or join’. Yoga is over 5000 years old Indian body of knowledge and exercise. Yoga is all about integrating the body with the mind and breath through the means of various breathing exercises, asans and meditation.
People who do Yoga and are mindful eaters are more in tune with their body. They may be more sensitive to hunger and feelings of fullness. Researches found that people who did yoga for at least 45 minutes once a week for at least 3 years, gained less weight and fat. People who were overweight actually lost weight and body fat. Overall, those who did yoga had lower body mass indexes compared with those who did not practice yoga. Mindful eating can lead to a more positive relationship with food, eating and body.
Yoga is known for its ability to reduce tension and anxiety in the mind and body. But it can also have an impact on a person's exercise capacity and overall strength. Researchers studied a small group of individuals who had not did yoga before. After eight weeks of practicing yoga for a week for a total of 60 minutes, participants had greater muscle strength and endurance, flexibility and cardiovascular fitness.
Yoga creates inner awareness. It focuses your attention on your body's abilities at the present time. It helps develop breath and strength of mind and body. Surveys have found that those who practiced yoga were more aware of their bodies than people who didn't did yoga in past. They were also more satisfied with and less critical of their bodies. For these reasons, yoga has become an integral part in the treatment of eating disorders and programs that promote positive body image.
