Our lives are too often bombarded with notifications and hectic schedules. For this reason it is important to utilize all the tools available to improve your health. There are many practices that you can embrace in order to feel more relaxed and achieve more control over your wellbeing. Implementing self-care practices will help you take charge of your mental and physical health. This blog will help teach you why yoga is one of the best self-care tools out there. 

Strengthened Immunity 

There are many common practices that will strengthen your immune system such as eating organically and washing your hands often. Practicing controlled breathing exercises is another effective way to beat common illnesses. Spend at least 10 minutes each day focusing on inhaling through your nostrils and exhaling slowly out your mouth. 

Another breathing practice you can try for increased immunity is counting breaths. Try inhaling for two counts, holding for eight counts, and exhaling for four counts. Practicing this controlled breathing will give you higher levels of antibodies which are key in combating germs, bacteria and viruses. 

Reduce Chronic Swelling

Inflammation is your body’s way to combat things that may cause it harm. Some of these things are injuries and infections. The inflammation process usually lasts a few days while your body is healing. Chronic swelling occurs when the inflammation response lingers for months or even years. When inflammation dwells for an extended period your tissue and organs can be affected negatively. 

Practicing yoga and breathing exercises could produce mucins and other proteins that absorb and minimize inflammation. This helps reduce damage from chronic inflammation and other infections. Improving your overall physical activities and diet are also shown to reduce chronic swelling. 

Manage and Limit Stress

Numerous studies have shown that yoga helps to reduce levels of stress. Yoga will help to enhance your overall mood and mental state. Making yoga a part of your daily routine will help you to cope with the stressors that naturally come with life. The combination of controlled breathing, physical poses and meditation allows for lower blood pressure which is a cause of stress. When your body is accustomed to physical activity you are better primed to manage stress.

When a hard day of stress does occur, yoga is a great answer and a strong means to manage it. Controlled breathing allows your heart rate to slow and trigger a deeper relaxation response.  

Improve Memory and Brain Health

Yoga can keep your brain and memory functioning at their best for a long period of time. There is a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF for short. This protein is in charge of the growth and survival of neurons. When there are low levels of BDNF it can cause stress, anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s disease. Yoga helps protect against these because your body produces more BDNF proteins when practicing yoga.

Physical Benefits

There are numerous benefits to your physical well being when practicing self-care through yoga. Here are a few;

• Increase bone density
• Improve body image
• Develop body positivity
• Prolong a healthy life
• Increase pain tolerance 
• Strengthen muscles 

Yoga can help you preserve muscles that you currently have and also help you to develop new muscles. 

Too many members of society feel that self-care is associated with selfishness. Achieving personal health and happiness is not selfish because these things are achieved on a personal level. Yoga is a great way to achieve happiness and self-acceptance. Frequent yoga practice helps you dispel fears and uncertainties as you gain control over your body and mind.   

Consider implementing a yoga routine into your life. Check out STEADY for products that can help you reach your self-care goals.