Benefits of Yoga

Psychological Benefits of Yoga

1. Somatic and kinetics awareness increase 
2. Mood improves and subjective well-being increases 
3. Self-acceptance and self-actualization increase 
4. Social adjustment increases 
5. Anxiety and Depression decrease 
6. Hostility decreases 
7. Concentration improves
8. Memory improves
9. Attention improves
10. Learning efficiency improves 
11. Mood improves
12. Self-actualization increase
13. Social skills increases
14. Well-being increases
15. Somatic and kinesthetic awareness increase
16. Self-acceptance increase
17. Attention improves
18. Concentration improves
19. Memory improves
20. Learning efficiency improves
21. Symbol coding improves 
22. Depth perception improves
23. Flicker fusion frequency improves

Physiological Benefits of Yoga

1. Stable autonomic nervous system equilibrium
2. Pulse rate decreases
3. Respiratory rate decreases
4. Blood Pressure decreases (of special significance for hyporeactors) 
5. Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) increases 
6. EEG - alpha waves increase (theta, delta, and beta waves also increase during various stages of meditation) 
7. EMG activity decreases 
8. Cardiovascular efficiency increases 
9. Respiratory efficiency increases 
10. Gastrointestinal function normalizes 
11. Endocrine function normalizes 
12. Excretory functions improve 
13. Musculoskeletal flexibility and joint range of motion increase 
14. Breath-holding time increases
15. Joint range of motion increase 
16. Grip strength increases
17. Eye-hand coordination improves 
18. Dexterity skills improve
19. Reaction time improves 
20. Posture improves 
21. Strength and resiliency increase 
22. Endurance increases 
23. Energy level increases 
24. Weight normalizes 
25. Sleep improves 
26. Immunity increases 
27. Pain decreases 
28. Steadiness improves 
29. Depth perception improves 
30. Balance improves 
31. Integrated functioning of body parts improves

Biochemical Benefits of Yoga

1. Glucose decreases
2. Sodium decreases
3. Total cholesterol decreases 
4. Triglycerides decrease 
5. HDL cholesterol increases 
6. LDL cholesterol decreases
7. VLDL cholesterol decreases 
8. Cholinesterase increases
9. Catecholamines decrease 
10. ATPase increases
11. Hematocrit increases 
12. Hemoglobin increases
13. Lymphocyte count increases 
14. Total white blood cell count decreases 
15. Thyroxin increases 
16. Vitamin C increases 
17. Total serum protein increases

Yoga Health Benefits versus Exercise Benefits

Yoga Benefits 

1. Parasympathetic Nervous System dominates 
2. Subcortical regions of brain dominate 
3. Slow dynamic and static movements
4. Normalization of muscle tone
5. Low risk of injuring muscles and ligaments
6. Low caloric consumption
7. Effort is minimized, relaxed
8. Energizing (breathing is natural or controlled)
9. Balanced activity of opposing muscle groups
10. Noncompetitive, process-oriented
11. Awareness is internal (focus is on breath and the infinite)
12. Limitless possibilities for growth in self-awareness

Exercise Benefits 

1. Sympathetic Nervous System dominates 
2. Cortical regions of brain dominate 
3. Rapid forceful movements 
4. Increased muscle tension 
5. Higher risk of injury
6. Moderate to high caloric consumption
7. Effort is maximized
8. Fatiguing (breathing is taxed)
9. Imbalance activity of opposing groups
10. Competitive, goal-oriented
11. Awareness is external (focus is on reaching the toes, reaching the finish line, etc.)
12. Boredom factor