Health Benefits of Yoga

Health Benefits of Yoga

This information is grouped into three categories—physiological benefits, psychological benefits, biochemical effects—and is based on the regular practice of traditional asana, pranayama, and meditation. Please note that while pulse rate, etc., may increase during the practice of various asanas, some forms of pranayama, and some stages of meditation, but overall benefits to general health are as listed below. 

Physiological Benefits  

• 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  ƒ EEG - alpha waves increase (theta, delta, and beta waves also increase during 
• various stages of meditation)  
• EMG activity decreases  
• Cardiovascular efficiency increases  
• Respiratory efficiency increases (respiratory amplitude and smoothness  increase, tidal volume increases, vital capacity increases, breath-holding time increases)  
• Gastrointestinal function normalizes  
• Endocrine function normalizes  
• Excretory functions improve  
• Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase  
• Posture improves  
• Strength and resiliency increase  
• Endurance increases  
• 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  

Psychomotor functions 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 function improves:  

• Attention improves  
• Concentration improves  
• Memory improves  
• Learning efficiency improves  
• Symbol coding improves  
• Depth perception improves  
• Flicker fusion frequency improves   

Biochemical Effects  

• The biochemical profile improves, indicating an antistress and antioxidant effect, important in the prevention of degenerative diseases.  
• Glucose decreases  
• Sodium decreases  
• Total cholesterol decreases  
• Triglycerides decrease  
• HDL cholesterol increases  
• LDL cholesterol decreases  
• VLDL cholesterol decreases  
• Cholinesterase increases  
• Catecholamines decrease  
• ATPase increases  
• Hematocrit increases  
• Hemoglobin increases  
• Lymphocyte count increases  
• Total white blood cell count decreases  
• Thyroxin increases  
• Vitamin C increases  
• Total serum protein increases  
• Oxytocin increases 
• Prolactin increases 
• Oxygen levels in the brain increase