Millions of people around the world set an alarm, roll out a mat and do one thing that they wouldn’t do the rest of the year. International Yoga Day does that— it makes intentions come true, at least for a few hours in the morning. But that’s a harder question to answer: how one day of conscious exercise can become a life-long change which will impact your mental and physical health in a subtle way over the course of months and years. The true benefits are in the move from occasion to practice.
Yoga for Mental Wellness
Mental health disorders affect one in every seven individuals around the world, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the prevalence of stress-related disorders is increasing in urban areas. But the most overlooked aspect of general illness is mental health. That’s where Yoga fits in; as a practice, not a cure, that can be done anywhere, anytime, and works on the mind as well as the body.
The results of regular yoga practice, including reduced cortisol levels, decreased anxiety, better sleep quality, and emotional control, are in line with the research published in the International Journal of Yoga. A deep state of relaxation is created by pranayama, which is a conscious activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, bringing the body out of “fight or flight” mode. With regular practice, meditation, even in its short-term form, can help to sharpen memory, reduce worry, and enhance emotional balance.
Yoga isn’t about a perfect posture; it’s about being in this moment. The challenge now is juggling work, travel and other duties. It is seen that consistent and moderate yoga practice can have great mental health benefits over time. The mat can become a sacred and protected space, a space that is free of the chaos of everyday life, at least for a few minutes.
Yoga for Physical Wellness
There are proven and documented physical benefits of yoga, but they’re not just about flexibility. Asanas help to build lean muscle, improve alignment, health of joints, and bone remodelling. WHO estimates that physical inactivity is one of the largest risk factors for non-communicable diseases on a global scale, and even in its lighter forms, yoga can help to prevent these diseases by keeping the body strong, mobile and active.
However, a yoga practice also increases the nutritional requirements of the body, and that’s where the right supplement can make a difference. For example, immunity is very closely related to micronutrient status. Research indicates that zinc, vitamin C and vitamin D deficiency reduce immune response in healthy, active people. Nutriplus ImmunHealth from QNET India does just that. It is an immunity booster supplement that gives a comprehensive package of immunity-strengthening nutrients, which people who roll out the mat every day need daily.
Another area of health which yoga actively promotes is digestive health, with twisting postures, abdominal compressions and deep breathing, all energising good digestion. The ICMR-NIN nutritional data shows that a major deficiency in the majority of Indian diets is dietary fibre, which plays a crucial role in digestion, energy levels and weight management. Nutriplus FibreFit is a gut health supplement which enhances normal bowel movements, lowers the risk of digestive disorders, and keeps cholesterol and blood sugar levels healthy in conjunction with an active lifestyle.
However, bone health should also be part of the picture, especially for women over 35 and men over 50, and for anyone who doesn’t get much sun or consume sufficient amounts of calcium. Weight-bearing yoga postures do stimulate remodelling of the bones; however, calcium, vitamin D and magnesium should be present in sufficient quantities. Nutriplus BoneHealth is a bone health supplement that promotes stronger, healthier bones, enhances bone mass, increases metabolism, and can help to decrease arthritis and inflammation. Building strong, healthy bones is the building block to a yoga practice that will support them for years.
Make Yoga an Everyday Healthy Habit
One of the beauties of yoga is that it is scalable, from quiet meditation for a first-time practitioner to 90 minutes of deep flow for an experienced practitioner; yoga is for everyone. The subtle yet powerful health and wellness products from QNET India that accompany you on this journey of an active life are Nutriplus ImmunHealth, FibreFit and BoneHealth. If you use them in addition to a regular yoga workout, you’re exercising and building the type of health that no one habit can do on its own.
Also read: The Myriad Benefits of Yoga
