By fitlifemonthly 
A yoga body isn’t just about being flexible; the ancient practice has benefits like improving memory, heart, and bone health, says Anna Magee.
Brits are spending a whopping £790 million a year on yoga classes and mats. While new, quirky types of yoga are popping up like rage yoga or even dog yoga, science is increasingly proving the real benefits of traditional yoga.
Researchers at UCLA found that a three-month yoga and meditation course was more effective than memory exercises in reducing age-related brain impairment. Another study showed yoga could improve sleep in breast cancer survivors.
Lucy Edge, 53, was an advertising executive who chose yoga over antidepressants during a deep depression. Though she didn’t get the “yoga body” she imagined, she returned from India happier and more content. Now, she’s written three books about yoga and created Yoga Meds, a part of her website that lists over 300 clinical trials showing yoga’s benefits for issues from arthritis to insomnia.
Here’s a rundown on how yoga can benefit your health and how to get started (no need for stretchy pants):
If puzzles have been your go-to for brain training, consider yoga. A UCLA study on 25 adults over 55 showed that 12 weeks of yoga and meditation improved their spatial and visual memories, reduced depression and anxiety, and increased stress resilience. It suggests the need for more research on yoga to keep our hearts and brains healthy as we age.
You don’t need hours of headstands to benefit. In the study, participants did one hour of Kundalini yoga a week, a gentle form incorporating breath techniques, meditation, and chanting. They also did 20 minutes daily of a meditation practice called Kirtan Kriya.
While walking or jogging is great for heart health, yoga might be even better. A 2014 review found that yoga helped lower heart disease risk as much as conventional exercises like brisk walking. Stress raises blood pressure and heart rate, increasing heart disease risk. Yoga can reduce this stress.
Yoga is also beneficial for emotional health, helping with anxiety, stress, and depression – common in people with heart conditions. It improves blood pressure, cholesterol, and weight, all risk factors for heart disease.
To get started, try a gentle yoga series designed to reduce stress. Another option is Restorative yoga, where you use bolsters and cushions and hold postures for up to 12 minutes to deeply relax the nervous system.
Musculoskeletal physiotherapist and yoga teacher Sarah Shone developed yoga classes for back pain that were so effective they were included in a Primary Care Trust’s rehabilitation program. Most participants reported reduced pain. Yoga targets the pelvic floor and other body muscles and is weight-bearing, which helps increase bone density.
If you’re new to yoga, inform your teacher about any health issues. Start with gentle styles like Hatha or Iyengar before trying more intense versions. For specific conditions like back pain, consult your doctor to see if you’re eligible for subsidized yoga through an exercise referral scheme.
Choosing the right yoga mat is essential. Consider where you’ll keep it, how often you’ll carry it, and choose a thickness that provides joint comfort. Healthista recommends the Elephant Cork Yoga mat from Valka Yoga (£69.95). It’s eco-friendly and offers good padding for the joints. Cork mats are great for hot yoga, as they become grippier with sweat and are antimicrobial.
For yoga blocks, consider cork ones, like Valka’s (£19.95), for better stability and grip compared to foam blocks. Blocks help with difficult poses by adding extra length.
Whether flexible or not, yoga can help. Try Yin or Restorative yoga for deep relaxation, Vinyasa Flow for an energetic class, or Iyengar yoga for precision and alignment. For injury or illness, Yoga Therapy is a good choice.
Lucy Edge’s book “Down Dog Billionaire” is available on Amazon.