6 Proven Health Benefits of Yoga

20th November 2013

ByDr. Edward F. Group

Guest Writer for Wake Up World

Yoga is that eastern practice involving odd positions and stretches that may seem slightly strange, though many people swear by – once they’ve tried it. It’s well known to be relaxing and a healthy way to exercise.

However, there are also lots of wild claims about it. What’s true and what isn’t?

Fortunately, there has been scientific research on the topic of yoga, and with excellent results. So we don’t need to rely on claims. Rather, let’s take a look at six proven benefits of yoga.

1. Male Reproductive Health

One of the most common problems men face today is loss of fertility. And as a recent study’s authors have noted, “Various Assisted Reproductive Technologies have been introduced to solve the problem, but common people cannot afford the cost of such procedures.” [1]

The same study suggests that yoga can improve the quality of sperm in cases of low sperm count or motility. Yoga has also been proven to benefit prostate health.Of course, its well-known ability to reduce stress and anxiety is also beneficial for improving a couple’s sex life. And mild disruptions in erectile response can also benefit from the practice of yoga.

Perhaps, instead of running to a fertility clinic, a couple’s first stop should be a yoga instructor!

2. Indications of Menopause

A new study that reviewed existing studies has documented yoga’s ability to ease the indications of menopause. They looked at hot flashes, sleep, cognitive function, mood, and discomfort. In some cases, they found that standard exercise helps as much as yoga, in others they found definitive benefit from yoga, and in all cases, yoga was at least as good as typical types of exercise. [2]

My conclusion is that you can’t go wrong by doing yoga to improve menopausal symptoms!

3. Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Reflux, that miserable and uncomfortable condition of stomach acid pushing up into the esophagus, may seem simple to take care of with over-the-counter and prescription drugs. But that relief comes at a heavy price: poisoning by aluminum, which is the primary ingredient in most of these products, and harm to your digestion by lowering the pH of your intestinal tract. You need that acid to digest foods properly.

So, it’s really great to learn that yoga can ease the symptoms of GERD. A recent study discusses a specific case of a man whose reflux problems were greatly eased by yoga, and then goes on to discuss several trials that have documented benefits for GERD and other gastrointestinal disorders. The authors suggest that yoga’s benefits may be a result of impact on the nervous system. As we’ll see later, their thinking is supported by research on yoga’s neurological effects. [3]

4. Knee Osteoarthritis

The discomfort of osteoarthritis in your knees can interfere with virtually all aspects of life. Inability to get around easily means that your ability to exercise is limited, socialization and the things that you find enjoyable, such as dancing, can become undo-able, and even normally stress-free activities like cooking can become difficult. A study has just been done that shows significant benefit in osteo-arthritic knee discomfort after just 8 weeks. So, before agreeing to submit to a surgeon’s scalpel, why not give yoga a try? [4]

5. Coronary Heart Disease

Heart disease is related to stress, and we live in a particularly stressful era. Yoga and its offshoot, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), are known to help ease stress. Now, studies document that yoga alone and MBSR can also decrease the risk of coronary heart disease. Of particular note is that pranayama, the yoga practice of breathing correctly, can be particularly helpful in supporting the good health that typically exists opposite of heart disease. In fact, markers that indicate high risk for coronary heart disease are improved significantly by the practice of slow pranayama. [5] [6]

6. Neurological Support

One of the two control centers of the body is the nervous system, with the other being the endocrine, also known as glandular, system. Sadly, today’s life brings constant nervous stress, making nerves hyper-vigilant and literally wearing them out, along with the extra stress it brings to the rest of the body. As we’ve seen to this point, several different aspects of health are improved by the practice of yoga. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that a new study documents significant nervous system health benefits brought by yoga.

In spite of yoga seeming to be less intense than the other aspects of police officers’ training, a recent study has demonstrated significant improvement in their nervous systems when yoga was included in their training. Both motor and sensory nerve conduction were improved. [7]

Clearly, if you want to improve every aspect of your health, you should include yoga in your routine. You’ll find, as have so many others, just how good you can feel! Is yoga already a part of your day? If so, leave a comment below and let us know how it’s affected your health!

– Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

References:

1. Pallave Sengupta, Prasenjit Chaudhuri, and Koushik Bhattacharya. Male reproductive health and yoga. International Journal of Yoga. July 2013. doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.
2. Woods NF, Mitchell ES, Schnall JG, Cray L, Ismail R, Raylor-Swanson L, Thomas A. Effects of mind-body therapies on symptom clusters during the menopausal transition and early postmenopause: a systematic review. Climacteric. August 12, 2013.
3. Dharmesh Kaswala, Shamik Shah, Zamir Brelvi. Can yoga be used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease? International Journal of Yoga. Jul-Dec 2013. doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.
4. Gopal S Nambi and Amisha Atul Kumar Shah. Additional effect of iyengar yoga and EMG biofeedback on pain and functional disability in chronic unilateral knee osteoarthritis. International Journal of Yoga. Jul-Dec 2013. doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.
5. Manish J Parswani, Mehendra P Sharm, and SS Iyengar. Mindfulness-based stress reduction program in coronary heart disease: A randomized control trial. International Journal of Yoga. July 6, 2013. doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.113405.
6. Vivek Kumar Sharma, Madanmohan Trakroo, and Ajit Sahai. Effect of fast and slow pranayama on perceived stress and cardiovascular parameters in young health-care students. International Journal of Yoga. July 2013. doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.113400.
7. Trakroo M, Bhavanani AB, Pal GK, Udupa K, Krishnamurthy N. A comparative study of the effects of asan, pranayama and asan-pranayama training on neurological and neuromuscular functions of Pondicherry police trainees. International Journal of Yoga. July 2013. doi: 10.4103/0973-6131.113398.

Previous articles by Dr. Group:

• The Health Benefits of Blue Green Algae
• The 9 Best Herbs for Lung Cleansing and Respiratory Support
• The Benefits of Himalayan Salt
• Lung Cleansing With Peppermint Oil
• How to Flush the Liver
• Natural Remedies For Bad Breath
• 10 Foods That Detox the Body
• The Benefits of Organic Hemp Milk + How to Make Your Own

About the author:

Dr. Edward F. GroupfoundedGlobal Healing Centerin 1998 and is currently the Chief Executive Officer. Heading up the research and development team, Dr. Group assumes a hands-on approach in producing new and advanced degenerative disease products and information.

Dr. Group has studied natural healing methods for over 20 years and now teaches individuals and practitioners all around the world. He no longer sees patients but solely concentrates on spreading the word of health and wellness to the global community. Under his leadership, Global Healing Center, Inc. has earned recognition as one of the largest alternative, natural and organic health resources on the Internet.