Women, More Than Ever Recognize the Power of Yoga

The word “yoga” means to join or yoke together, in this case referring to bringing the mind and body together in harmony. While yoga is heavily associated with Hindu and Buddhist practices–both religions incorporate elements of its principles–it has been endorsed even in Western medicine as an effective type of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), particularly for pain relief and boosting overall wellness.

American Women, Medicine Endorse Yoga

In the 2012 study “Yoga in America,” Yoga Journal found that yoga devotees in the U.S. are overwhelmingly female. Of the 20.4 million Americans who practice yoga regularly, more than 82 percent are women who say they embrace it for self-improvement reasons, including flexibility, general conditioning, improving overall health, physical fitness and stress relief.

The American Osteopathic Association notes that yoga can help reduce chronic pain, lower blood pressure and reduce insomnia, two common complaints from women that can decrease their effectiveness at home, work, or in relationships.

Yoga Helps Women Beat Limitations

Yoga also assists the mind in find the focus it needs to stop damaging behavior. In 2012, the Journal of Women’s Health reported that practicing yoga while in a smoking cessation program can help women quit. (Trying to quit? Visit Women.Smokefree.Gov for support)

Since yoga is something a person must actively choose to participate in, just taking this step can be empowering. Forbes’ Jennifer Cohen, a fitness expert and author, recommends exercising in the morning, before facing the world. Regular morning yoga or exercise will give you a “boost of energy” to get your through the day and help you earn “that deserved sense of accomplishment.”

Yoga & Other Workouts Strengthen Body, Mind

• Does exercise strengthen the mind?

The evidence is overwhelmingly positive. U.S. News & World Report lists several “mind-blowing” benefits of exercise on the mind. Here are a few:

• It reverses the damaging effects of stress by increasing the production of brain chemicals that soothe the body, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine
• It eases depression by boosting a brain chemical called GABA
• It increases growth factors in the brain, which lead to new neural connections that can improve the ability to learn.

For women who don’t feel completely comfortable jumping into yoga, low-impact fitness like walking and stretching with free weights can be learn.