Mind Blown! Here Are 5 OM-Azing Benefits of Yoga for Your Mind

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You may already be aware of the physical benefits of yoga for your body – from increasing your flexibility to building strength, and so much more. But do you know what yoga can do for your mind?

Yoga brings balance to your body and mind and also strengthens their connection. It is the go-to option for fitness enthusiasts, and the number of yogis is increasing by the day. According to Yoga Journal, over 20 million people practice yoga in the US alone!

Yoga strengthens the mind-body connection, and this results in reduced anxiety and improved quality of life. From busting stress and calming the nervous system to brightening your overall mood, there is A LOT that yoga can do for your mind.

Here Are 5 OM-azing Benefits of Yoga for Your Mind:

1. Yoga Tames the Mind’s Million Thoughts

Yoga and meditation are both about centering the mind. When we calm the mind, we reduce (or even mute) the millions of thoughts that are constantly running through our heads. As a result, you immediately feel more calm, centered, and present.

Yoga also calms the nervous system, which as a result, reduces stress. Physical yoga poses, breathing exercises, and meditation all work to help lower your blood pressure and heart rate and cortisol levels (the stress hormone) in the body, which in turn benefit the mind.

Try This Guided Meditation for a Calm Mind
Follow along as YA Classes teacher Carissa Banuelos guides you through a meditation for a calm and peaceful mind.

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Calm Mind

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2. Yoga Combats Negative Emotions

Stress often brings with it negative emotions which can lead to anxiety, worry and even depression. Yoga helps increase circulation and release positive brain hormones like dopamine to make you feel happier and gain a more positive mindset.

In need of releasing some negativity in your own life? Here are 7 Hip Opener Yoga Poses to Release Negativity

3. Yoga Promotes Productivity

One of the most important aspects of yoga is mindfulness. Being mindful of what you are doing plays an essential role in boosting your productivity. When your mind is at peace, you work in a calm, stable, and confident manner.

Mindfulness is the ultimate habit for success, and when your mind is free from stress and negativity, you tend to work better. Yoga enables you to steer clear of anxiety and contributes to a feeling of calm alertness.

Practice These 8 Simple Exercises to Infuse Your Day With Mindfulness

4. Yoga Improves Mental Clarity

When we attain inner peace in a world full of stress, it helps us concentrate on what we are doing even during difficult times. Studies show that yoga improves our mental focus and clarity, which in turn allows us to perform better.

Just as we need our full focus in a balancing yoga pose, off the mat, yoga helps us set aside any unnecessary thoughts and feelings, and focuses on what is essential.

Interested in yoga poses that can specifically help boost your focus and concentration? Improve Your Concentration With These 10 Yoga Poses

5. Yoga Sharpens Our Ability to Problem Solve

Every day brings along new challenges and sometimes, we find a mental block instead of a solution. Yoga can help remove those mental blocks by boosting your problem-solving abilities. Through the mindfulness, presence, and self-awareness that yoga cultivates, you boost your reasoning power to help you make better decisions.

Yoga also gives you self-confidence, self-assurance and mental clarity so you can face any challenge that comes your way and calmly find the best solution.

Yoga for Your Mind: A No-Brainer, Mental Health Game-changer!

Life is complicated and often stressful, and we could all use a stress-busting tool like yoga to soothe our minds and bodies. Yoga brings harmony to your soul and elevates your personal and professional relationships by keeping your overall mood and behavior in check.

Relieve stress, find a sense of calm, and use your yoga practice to support the healthiest, happiest and best version of y.o.u.!