You’d be surprised the many ways the practice of yoga can improve your life as a woman.
It is often said “it is not easy to be a man”. Well, try being a woman.
The very essence of womanhood, sadly, is enveloped by hardship. From the start of puberty to menopause, and don’t get me started on the pains of pregnancy or the turmoil that comes with the longing for it (bareness).
But what if I told you that yoga can serve as an analgesic to these painful parts of being a woman if done regularly?
When you think of yoga, you probably think of the lotus pose, or cobra stretch. While you’re not wrong in thinking that, yoga is more than poses and stretches. It is a sequence of flows and motions that influences all human senses psychologically, physically, mentally, emotionally and hormonally.
Which is why, although yoga is great for everyone, regardless of race, gender, age, and body shape or size, it is especially great for women.
Benefits of Yoga for Women
Women who practice yoga enjoy lots of benefits, both physically and health-wise. Benefits such as:
- Yoga Practice Improves Bone and Muscle Health
More than men, women are prone to degenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Arthritis and Osteoporosis, as we age.
However, women who practice yoga are exceptions of this, as with time and regular practice, their general health improves, even as they age.
They grow stronger and their bodies become more flexible rather than stiff, making them less prone to such diseases.
Yoga poses and flows such as Tree Pose, Downward-Facing-Dog, Warrior I and II, Pigeon Pose, and Sun Salutations are great for improving your muscle and bone health.
2. Doing Yoga Reduces Menstrual Pain
Although for some women, menstrual pain is mild, for most, the thought of seeing their periods is a dread. Sometimes even pain relief pills do no good for them.
And if you’re such a woman, this is why doing yoga will benefit you.
Yoga improves blood circulation, and specific yoga exercises done during the menstrual period can improve blood flow in your abdominal muscles, hence, relieving you of the tightness and pain you feel there.
Such yoga exercises include; Gracious Pose and Couch Pose.
3. Yoga Regulates Hormonal Changes
As women, our hormones are constantly changing, especially during menstruation, ovulation, pregnancy, lactation, and menopause.
All through our lives, we’re burdened by these changes, and every change is accompanied by symptoms that affect our mental, physical or psychological health.
However, these symptoms can best be regulated with regular yoga practice.
Try making a routine of these yoga poses; Gracious Pose, Camel Pose, Bridge Pose, and Sun Salutations, and you’ll see how well you begin to manage those hormonal change symptoms.
4. Yoga Supports the Well-being of Pregnant Women
Pregnant Women are often stressed, anxious and in pain. While these are natural and normal, practicing yoga as often as you can will help soothe and relieve you of these symptoms.
Prenatal yoga, a type of yoga you do before delivering, is a great way to get your body and mind ready for labour and delivery. It helps to improve blood circulation, increase strength in your core muscles and enhances flexibility around your back area.
Some recommended yoga exercises for pregnant women are: Tree Pose, Goddess Pose, and Cat-Cow Pose.
Of course, you must check with your doctor before including any form of yoga exercise in your routine while you’re pregnant.
5. Regular Yoga Practice Speeds Up Postpartum Recovery
Feeling insecure because of loose skin around your belly after giving birth is not something you should feel guilty about. However, it is something that you can work on with yoga, especially if you’re not a fan of going to the gym.
Yoga poses such as Cat-Cow, Downward-Facing-Dog, and Modified plank are great for tightening and strengthening your core muscles.
6. Yoga Offers Great Relief From Anxiety and Stress
Be it hormones or your job that stresses you out and makes you feel anxious, whatever the reason may be, take advantage of some of yoga poses to calm your nerves and relieve stress.
Yoga poses such as Child’s Pose, Reclined Twists, and Cobra pose are some of the best poses for relaxation.
7. Improved Quality of Sleep with Yoga
The body needs at least 7 hours of good sleep to reenergize for the next day and keep the immune systems functioning properly. Poor quality of sleep exposes the body to various disease attack.
Insomnia is something lots of women battle with, especially women in or close to menopause, due to the stress from work and caring for their families.
But report shows that women have seen great results in their quality of sleep since doing yoga regularly.
Yoga poses such as Leg Up The Wall, Cobra Pose and Reclined Pigeon Pose are great for improving sleep quality.
Conclusion
Every woman should practice yoga, not because it is a fancy western thing to do, but because of the many benefits that can be enjoyed from it, including reduced risk of suffering arthritis or any other bone or muscle disease, improved sleep quality, relieving stress and painful menstrual cramps. So the next time you think of popping those pain relief or sleeping pills, get your yoga mat and do some poses as recommended in this article.
You May Also Like:
Five Ways Skin Girls Can Gain Weight In All The Right Places
Leave a comment