By fitlifemonthly 
A yoga body isn’t just about being flexible. The ancient practice can actually boost your memory, heart, and bone health, according to Anna Magee.
People in the UK are spending around £790 million a year on yoga classes and mats. While yoga can seem increasingly unusual with forms like rage yoga, dog yoga, and yoga on paddleboards, its real health benefits are being backed by scientific research.
Researchers at UCLA found that a three-month course of yoga and meditation was more effective than memory exercises for reducing age-related brain changes. Another study showed that yoga could improve sleep in breast cancer survivors.
Lucy Edge, a 53-year-old former advertising executive, turned to yoga when she fell into a deep depression. Instead of taking the prescribed anti-depressants, she traveled to India for six months to learn yoga. Although she didn’t achieve a perfect yoga body, she returned much happier and more content. Lucy has written three books on yoga and started Yoga Meds, part of her website Yogaclicks.com, listing over 300 clinical trials on yoga’s benefits for conditions like arthritis, insomnia, and obesity.
If crossword puzzles and Sudoku have been your main methods for memory training, it might be time to try yoga. The UCLA study involved 25 adults over 55, comparing the effects of memory exercises with yoga and meditation. The latter group showed better improvements in memory, less depression and anxiety, and more resilience to stress. This suggests more research should be conducted on yoga and meditation to keep our hearts and brains healthy as we age.
To try it, you don’t need to spend hours on headstands. In the study, participants did one hour of Kundalini yoga a week, which includes breathing techniques, meditation, and chanting mantras. They also did 20 minutes daily of Kirtan Kriya, a meditation involving chanting, hand movements, and visualizing light.
When it comes to heart health, a review published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology in 2014 suggested that yoga can lower heart disease risk as much as conventional exercises like brisk walking. Since stress is a significant factor in heart disease, reducing stress through yoga is beneficial. Previous research has linked yoga to improvements in blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight.
To get started, you might try a stress-reducing yoga series by Charlotte Watts or Restorative yoga, where postures are supported on bolsters and cushions for up to 12 minutes.
For relieving back pain, Sarah Shone, a physiotherapist and yoga teacher, developed yoga classes as part of a rehabilitation program. 87% of participants reported less pain. Yoga targets pelvic floor muscles and can increase bone density, making it beneficial for preventing conditions like incontinence.
If you’re new to yoga, choose a gentle style like Hatha or Iyengar, and inform your teacher about any health issues. For specific conditions like back pain, consult your doctor for a possible course of subsidized yoga.
Investing in good yoga props can enhance your practice. Consider things like the location of your mat, how often you’ll carry it, your height, and the thickness. A thicker mat can protect your joints better. Healthista recommends the Elephant Cork Yoga mat from Valka Yoga, which is eco-friendly, durable, and comfortable.
For additional support, a cork yoga block like the one from Valka Yoga can help you reach difficult poses and provide more stability than foam blocks.
If you’re new to yoga or not very flexible, don’t worry. Different types of yoga can suit various needs:
– Yin or Restorative yoga uses blankets, cushions, and bolsters for support and is usually done under candlelight.
– Vinyasa Flow is energetic and links postures to breath in a sequence. It’s adaptable for beginners.
– Iyengar yoga focuses on alignment and detail, using props to hold poses for up to 20 breaths.
– Anusara yoga combines alignment with flowing movements, often to upbeat music.
– Yoga Therapy is a specialized form targeted at healing injuries or illness.
Choose the style that fits you and enjoy the journey of better health through yoga.