Effects of Yoga

Yoga is one of the most effective and efficient forms of exercise ever devised, mainly because it is designed only for the harmony and health of the body. Most so-called sports are designed for something else - handling balls, running faster, jumping higher, etc. - and the health effect is only a side effect. Handling a ball well or running faster may not necessarily contribute to the harmony and health of the body. To the contrary they often have harmful effects. In such sports, making lots of movements have both healthy side effects and unhealthy side effects. Also, it is not difficult to imagine that the efficiency and effectiveness of such sports can be far short of something that is designed exclusively for health and harmony. I actually consider harsh sports such as soccer or football more harmful than beneficial.

Yoga wastes no energy for other things. It is a system of exercise designed only for the health and harmony of the body. Its effects are direct and far reaching without bad side effects. Outwardly, it strengthens muscles, bones, and joints and keeps them supple and strong. Inwardly, it stimulates and strengthens digestive, respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems, and keeps them in tune. It also stimulates glands, and helps keeping the spine in shape. A healthy spine in turn keeps the nervous system and internal organs in a better shape. Deep breathing helps moving the ki energy, which enhances mental mood, which again enhances the nervous system. The list is endless.

Yoga also improves sensitivity of the body. A sensitive body is better able to discern good food from bad food, and to detect body conditions that are out of harmony and balance, making it possible to address them in a more timely manner. A body that is kept in clean, orderly conditions tends to develop the kind of sensitivity that is required to know what to eat, when to exercise, when to rest, when to seek for medical help.

Although benefits of yoga are countless, it does not guarantee perfect health. In fact, there is no such thing as perfect health. Body, being a form, is never perfect, and will never be. With or without yoga, it is subject to the basic law of the Nature - there are times for it to grow, to be strong, to get weak, and to degenerate. No matter how good one may be in yoga, it does not make anybody a superman or immortal. It only helps maintaining the optimal health that the body is born with. Most people live under the level of health that is given to the body.