Everyone looks for new ways to keep themselves looking and feeling their best. However, for many, the traditional routine of going to the gym and running on a treadmill or lifting weights just doesn’t work. If you are looking for a type of workout that will work for you or are looking for simple ways to better yourself, yoga may be perfect for you.

Whether you are new to working out or have ingrained a set routine into your life, yoga can still greatly benefit you. We all know that moving is an important part of keeping our bodies healthy and feeling good. Yoga is a perfect supplement to an already active life, but it is also a great way for those that have not worked out in the past to add more movement to their routine. Keep reading for the top 5 reasons you should start a yoga routine today.

1. Improves flexibility and balance

The most obvious benefit of yoga is that it will improve your flexibility. Yoga asks practitioners to move through a series of movements of varying difficulty. Each movement will move different muscles and joints through their range of motion and gently push you to your limit. Over time, your muscles and joints will gain more flexibility and mobility. Moving each joint through its range of motions is extremely important in maintaining longevity.

Many yoga poses will also make you stand on one leg, bend over, or stretch out. It can be quite a challenge for those of us that lack balance. However, like anything else, balance can be improved with practice. All this balance work also helps to strengthen the small stabilizing muscles that are often not thought of. Therefore, yoga is the perfect way to target the whole body and work on areas that we may be missing in our typical workouts.

2. Boosts immunity

Yoga fights inflammation in our bodies. Inflammation is often a precursor to illness. While research is still in its early phases, yoga has been found in many cases to reduce inflammation and increase immune functioning. Therefore, by having a consistent yoga routine you will be healing your body from within.

3. Improves cardiovascular strength

While yoga may look like a glorified stretching routine to a novice, yoga is hard work. Yoga makes you hold difficult static poses for a long duration of time, which will get your muscles shaking. Some yoga routine takes you through a series of dynamic poses, after moving through them a few times your heart will be racing. Additionally, yoga asks practitioners to focus on their breathing which will directly influence our heart. Over time yoga will improve cardiovascular strength and benefit the cardiovascular system.

4. Improves posture and body awareness

Many of us spend way too much time hunched over at our computers. This leads to a lot of tension in our neck, shoulders, and back. Yoga works to reverse the effects of sitting all day. As you move through your yoga routine, you will find tight muscles begin to release. Many yoga poses ask you to pull your shoulders back and down, the opposite of what hunching over a computer does. Therefore, you will bring strength and mobility to those areas. Repeated practice will train your brain and muscle memory for better posture.

As you move and twist through your yoga routine you may find your body feeling very foreign in certain poses. Many of us only move through a few sets of motions every day. Yoga asks us to rethink our movement patterns and get uncomfortable. Over time this will increase your body awareness and coordination.

5. Improves mental health

While any workout routine will get you looking and feeling your best, yoga is also great for boosting your mental health. Yoga has been proven to decrease stress, reduce anxiety, alleviate depression, and improve our perceived quality of life. Try to find another workout routine that does all that!

Yoga forces you to go through a routine of deep breathing and will take you into a meditative state. Mediation is a great way to help us turn down our inner voices, push away daily worries, and teach ourselves what is truly important.

Yoga is the perfect beginner workout routine that anyone can try. Don’t worry if you’re not in shape, yoga is all about the journey. There are hundreds of positions with many variations. You’re sure to find something that will help you reach your mental and physical goals.

Did you give yoga a try? Let us know how it made you feel in the comments below.