Mainstream science and media has begun to acknowledge what practitioners of yoga have known for thousands of years, yoga has anti aging benefits. Not all people age equally; some age faster than others. There are several factors related to yoga that have a positive effect on the aging process.
One way yoga benefits aging is rejuvenation. Yoga rejuvenates the brain, spinal cord, internal organs and even the skin. Spending some time in the inverted poses can help to slow the effects of gravity on the face.
Yoga brings vitality and energy to the body, mind and spirit. This vitality is invigorating and prolongs the level of health and independence well into old age. Look at some of the biggest gurus in yoga, such as BKS Iyengar and others. They are practicing in perfect health well past the age many Americans are languishing in nursing homes.
The old adage that you are only as young as you feel is based in reality, as often happens with clichés. As you move into middle age and beyond, yoga preserves your flexibility, strength, endurance and physical fitness. The result is the invigorating feeling of youth, rather than the aches and pains of aging.
If you have been listening at all to the current health care debate happening in the United States, one of the things that have been talked about is preventative care. Yoga and other holistic practices work to prevent the deterioration and disease that comes with aging.
Diet is an important factor in health, wellness and slowing down the aging process. As an individual begins to practice yoga on a regular basis, there is an increased chance that student will begin to embrace other aspects of the yoga lifestyle. One of these is diet. When we eat the way humans are intended to eat, the result is often improved health and longevity.