Yoga – The Latest Health Benefits and Trends

Yoga is praised by many to be the ultimate full body workout. It challenges the core, strengthens the whole body, and increases feelings of wellbeing. Lately, new trends in yoga have been cropping up. From goat yoga to apps that track your yoga practice, the future of this workout is wide open. Let’s chat about the health benefits of yoga as well as some of the popular new practices that are trending right now.

The Benefits of Yoga

While you may not always experience an increase in heart rate or respiration, yoga has been shown to create many health benefits. It’s been shown to lower the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart disease, while helping to control symptoms of diseases such as diabetes. Less tangible, but still immensely important, yoga is thought to increase feelings of wellbeing while decreasing those of depression and anxiety. It can even help control pain related to arthritis.

New Trends in Yoga

In recent years, new trends have popped up in the world of yoga. If you are looking for new ways to change up your routine, you now have many options that range in intensity, from Bikram yoga to animal yoga (furry friends, anyone?!).

Bikram Yoga

Bikram yoga is one trend that has become quite popular. It involves performing 26 poses in a prescribed order over the course of 90 minutes. It is most often done in a heated room, with temperatures reaching as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit — hence it’s nickname: “hot yoga.” Bikram instructors may also take pupils through specific breathing techniques throughout their classes.

While it does provide positive effects like those of more traditional forms of yoga, Bikram comes with some risk factors. The high temperature in the room may exacerbate symptoms of hypertension and heart disease and can cause dehydration. It also puts practitioners at risk of strains due to overstretching. It’s recommended that you drink plenty of fluids and listen to your body if you choose to give Bikram yoga a try.

Animal Yoga

Designed to add an extra layer of fun, some yogis have added pets such as goats and dogs to their practice in recent years. Now, no one is forcing animals to hold yoga poses. Instead, the animals are given free rein to roam about the practice space, providing smiles and snuggles along the way. It can be a great way to bond with your pet or to simply give you an extra feeling of happiness during your yoga class.

Future Trends in Yoga

As yoga moves further into the 21^st century, new trends are developing. There are apps, such as Yoga Download, that provide guidance for yoga sessions so you can get a workout in while traveling or in the privacy of your own home. Equipment, such as yoga blocks and specialized mats, is now readily available online or at sporting goods stores. Yoga retreats are also becoming more popular. A yoga retreat is, in essence, a vacation in a beautiful landscape (think beaches, mountains, or deserts), which includes healthy foods, spa treatments, and a variety of yoga practices.

Finally, yoga is being incorporated into various forms of therapy. Physically, yoga can help improve balance and strength when recovering from injuries or ailments. Psychologically, it has been shown to decrease the symptoms of depression, anxiety, grief, and pervasive sadness.

Whether you’re new to yoga, or a regular yogi, trying out one of these new yoga trends might be just the thing you need to feel your best.