Yoga can help you boost both mental and physical health in various ways. Read here to know the benefits of yoga for your overall health and how to start practicing yoga daily.

Yoga can help you maintain a healthy weight

As a practice, Yoga can elevate your physical body to its peak performance, while calming and de-stressing the mind. Yoga enables a metamorphosis of your body, mind, and spirit. This traditional technique builds a powerful connection between the mind, body and spirit allowing a new you to emerge. Yoga can help you fight the risk of several diseases. It can also support your weight loss process and physical fitness. Yoga plays a significant role when it comes to your mental health. It can help beat stress and may help in keeping the symptoms of mental health issues like depression, anxiety and more at bay.

Benefits of yoga for physical and mental health

You can start with the basic Surya Namaskar completing 3-5 cycles initially. Gradually build this up to as many as 21 or more per day, and follow this up with Pranayama and Meditation for holistic wellness.

Surya Namaskar

Surya Namaskar or the Sun Salutation comprises of a total of 24 counts, done with 12 steps for each side. As Surya Namaskar represents the energy of the Sun, which is said to be contained in the right side of the body, the Surya Namaskar hence begins with the right leg. Repeat the same twelve steps to the left side to finish one complete cycle. Start with a minimum of 4-5 cycles and increase it gradually.

Also read: Surya Namaskar Variations: Try These For Better Stamina, Endurance And Flexibility

Meditation

Meditation is also a highly recommended practice as this influences the rate at which your body can heal itself. Meditation techniques can improve your mood, calm your mind and help relax you.

To practice this, seat yourself in a comfortable pose. During the meditative process, with every inhale, this shield allows you to welcome all the positive energies of the world into you. And, as you exhale you release unwanted toxins, miseries, and negativity from within you.

Meditation leaves a calming effect on your mind and body
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Khand Pranayama

This powerful pranayama affects the functioning of different systems of the body and affords countless benefits. This pranayama will help you develop physically, mentally and emotionally.

Formation

Sit down in Dandasana, keep your back straight and breathe for some time.

Fold your legs in Sukhasana and prepare your mind for the practice

Sit in any comfortable pose (such as Sukhasan, Vajrasana, Ardhapadmasan, Padmasana or Siddhasana) Ideal posture is Poorna Padmasana

Straighten your back and close your eyes

Place your palms on your knees facing up (in Prapthi Mudra)

As you inhale, divide your breath into two equal parts

Without retaining the breath in your lungs, exhale twice

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Duration You may begin by practicing this breathing technique for 1-2 minutes a day and gradually increase it with time.

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