The Clinical Benefits of Yoga

Yoga has been recognized for centuries as a powerful holistic practice. However, it’s only in fairly recent times that modern-day science has proven the benefits yogis have come to enjoy for generations. In fact, over the last decade alone, dozens of clinical trials have been conducted in regard to yoga. Just last 2019, for instance, 22 randomized clinical trials into yoga’s benefits were conducted. These included trials that tested yoga’s correlation with cognition, mental health, and more. All of these studies, though, share the common result that yoga’s advantages aren’t just for the spirit—but also for the body.

How Are Yoga’s Benefits Clinically Verified?

But just how is a practice like yoga clinically verified for benefits? Through painstaking trials and studies conducted by clinical researchers in partnership with experienced yogis. Among the most critical careers in healthcare, clinical researchers are a cut above your average analyst. This is because they’re specially trained in monitoring data, ensuring protocols, implementing ethical guidelines, and conducting tests in regard to medical and science-related fields. This ensures that all control tests and results are especially relevant and accurate in relation to a direct hypothesis. In these cases, the research, analysis, and problem-solving skills of clinical researchers allow them to verify or debunk claims regarding yoga’s benefits. It is through these researchers and their trials that we can confidently share some of yoga’s most relevant clinically-verified advantages.

Clinically Proven Yoga Benefits:

1) Improves Aging

Yoga’s ability to improve overall well-being is not just true for younger practitioners, but also for older adults. As a matter of fact, an international study with participants aged 61 to 83 years old has accurately proven this. According to this trial, which was led by researchers from the UK, yoga’s strength and balance enhancing abilities can drastically improve senior mobility. According to the trials’ results, yoga was able to offset age-related muscle loss and heighten bone density. Aside from this, the breathing practices and postures upheld in yoga were shown to improve cardiovascular function and sleep hygiene. Both of which are known to decline with age. As such, it’s safe to say that older adults wary of practicing yoga have much more to gain should they try.

2) Eases Anxiety

Since 2017, studies on the mental health effects of yoga have highlighted how the practice specifically eases depression and anxiety. One notable clinical trial on anxiety even reveals that Kundalini yoga is efficacious in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Considered one of the most impactful yet undertreated mental health conditions, GAD affects nearly 4 million adults annually. For most people, GAD is a lifelong condition that usually starts in childhood or early adolescence. If left untreated, GAD can create an overwhelming sense of dread that can make it hard to complete even simple tasks. Thankfully, yoga has been an effective substitute for GAD treatment among patients uncomfortable or unable to access cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This is because of the mindfulness and controlled breathing that yoga espouses. Over time, these have been proven to help calm and center a person. Through this, mental health crises can be averted and anxiety can be kept under control.

3) Encourages Immunity

No other disease has swept the world like COVID-19. A highly-contagious virus, COVID-19 is best avoided and survived through good hygiene, vaccines, and immunity. However, among those three factors, arguably the most difficult to maintain is a good immune system. Interestingly, though, yoga has been celebrated for its immunity-boosting benefits, especially in light of the pandemic. Given that yoga is a practice that uplifts the body, mind, and spirit, it is believed to create a well-rounded approach that helps hasten healing. New pandemic-related evidence even suggests that yoga breathing practices can help patients recover from the virus. Simple video tutorials given to patients in Italy were even deemed essential in retraining the pulmonary system. As such, this only solidifies the role and importance that yoga has in the new normal.

In conclusion, yoga is a holistic endeavor that’s been proven effective on multiple fronts. Designed with various forms and styles for every need and circumstance, yoga is a worthwhile addition to invest in. If you want to start practicing yoga today, why not try this super gentle yoga stretch to start? If you’re looking for something more challenging or specific, though, please feel free to reach out and be a member with us today.

Written by: Morgan Denver