The health benefits of doing yoga: What are the pros and cons of doing yoga?

More information on the practice of yoga

Is yoga good for your health? Is it a good sport that’s accessible to everyone? Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced practitioner, you’ll find a list below of the benefits and problems you may encounter when practising yoga.

What is yoga?

Yoga is a physical activity based on relaxing the body and awakening the mind through gentle gymnastic exercises.

Although it is a relatively recent phenomenon in the West, yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India in the 3rd millennium B.C. Today, there are different forms of yoga (Bikram yoga, Hatha yoga, Power yoga, Kripalu yoga, Kundalini yoga, Ashtanga yoga, yoga for seniors, for children, for pregnant women, etc.). As you can see, if you’re looking for a dynamic or explosive sport, it won’t be yoga. If, on the other hand, your aim is to maintain your health through a gentle, all-in-one approach, then yoga is for you!

The advantages and benefits of yoga

Yoga is an intensive sport with many virtues. Here are just a few of them:

• Yoga tones the body
• Yoga combats stress and brings serenity and well-being
• Yoga improves sleep quality, concentration and memory
• Yoga helps you to become more aware of your body
• Yoga improves blood circulation

The disadvantages and harm of yoga

There are now different types of yoga adapted to the needs of everyone (for seniors, children, pregnant women….). Although the practice of yoga may seem gentle and harmless, it can be painful. The postures must be performed with precision to avoid certain risks of injury (wrist strains, shoulder sprains, torn cartilage, etc.).

On the other hand, if you suffer from back or hip problems, certain postures may not be advisable (e.g. the candle posture). All you need to do is talk to your teacher after consulting your doctor. Among the different types of yoga, Bikram yoga, for example, is practised at temperatures of up to 40°.

This discipline may not be recommended in cases of cardiovascular problems or respiratory insufficiency, for example. That’s why, whatever your level, it’s important to listen to your whole body and not overestimate your physical capacities.