Yoga offers both physical and mental benefits to people of all ages. Also, if you are experiencing illness, surgery, or chronic illness, yoga can be an important part of your treatment and may even speed up your recovery.

A yoga therapist can work with patients and bring together independent programs that work in conjunction with their therapies and surgeries. Thus, yoga can support the healing process and help a person see symptoms with greater concentration and less stress.

1. Yoga promotes strength, balance and flexibility.
   Slow walking and deep breathing increase blood flow and warm the muscles, while holding the space can build strength.

Experiment: The Question Tree
Balance with one foot, while holding the other foot on your calf or above the knee (but never twisted) at the right angle. Try to focus on one area in front of you, while measuring one minute.

2. Yoga helps relieve back pain.
   Yoga is like a basic stretch in relieving pain and improving the mobility of people with low back pain. The American College of Physicians recommends yoga as a first-line treatment for chronic pain.

Try it: Cat-Cow Pose
Get on all fours, and place your hands under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. First, breathe in, as you let your stomach down. After that, breathe, as you pull your navel toward your spine, wrapping your spine like a sleeping cat.

3. Yoga can reduce the symptoms of arthritis.
   Gentle yoga has been shown to reduce some of the joint discomfort, which is common in people with arthritis, according to Johns Hopkins’ review of 11 recent studies.
4. Yoga benefits heart health.
   Practicing regular yoga can reduce stress and inflammation throughout the body, contributing to a healthier heart. Many causes of heart disease, including high blood pressure and excess weight, can also be treated with yoga.

Try it: Down Dog Pose
Get on all fours, then put your toes down and bring your bones sitting up, to make the triangle stand up. Keep a slight bend at your knees, while stretching your spine and tailbone.

5. Yoga relaxes you, helping you sleep better.
   Studies show that a continuous sleep yoga routine can help you get into the right mindset and prepare your body for sleep and sleep.

Try it: Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose
Sit on your left side of the wall, then gently turn to the right and lift your legs to relax on the wall, keeping your back down and your bones sitting close to the wall. You can stay in this position for 5 to 15 minutes.

6. Yoga can mean a lot of energy and bright feelings.
   You may feel an increase in mental and physical strength, increased alertness and enthusiasm, and a few negative emotions after practicing yoga.
7. Yoga helps you manage stress.
   According to the National Institutes of Health, scientific evidence shows that yoga supports the management of stress, mental health, meditation, healthy eating, weight loss and sleep quality.

Try: Carcass Pose (Savasana)
Lie on the floor with your legs outstretched, away from the body, palms up. Try to clear your mind while breathing loudly. You can hold this pose for 5 to 15 minutes.

8. Yoga connects you to a supportive community.
   Participating in yoga classes can reduce loneliness and provide a place for group healing and support. Or in individual times loneliness diminishes as the person is accepted as a different person, listened to and participates in creating a personalized yoga program.
9. Yoga promotes better self-care.
   Scientific Research on the Benefits of Yoga
   The U.S. military, the National Institutes of Health and other major organizations are listening to – and including – scientific confirmation of the importance of yoga in health care.