A mindful, physical practice with a wide variety of benefits, yoga has avid fans around the world. As much of a mental exercise as it is physical, yoga is renowned for its ability to transform the lives of its practitioners. But what are the exact benefits of yoga? Here are all the improvements yoga can bring to your mind and body.

Muscle Strengthening

While there are different difficulty levels of yoga, even the gentlest practices will help yogis improve their strength. When coupled with its focus on flexibility and form, you’re able to build muscle mindfully and without the risk of injury.

Increased Flexibility

Flexibility is key to a successful yoga practice. While even the simplest of poses may cause strain at first, an increase in flexibility will become more apparent over time. Alongside this new ability to touch your toes will be increased ease of day-to-day movement.

Better Posture

Perfect posture is something most of us don’t always prioritize, but the benefits of standing up straight are immense. Slouching can cause neck and back strain, leading to unwanted aches and pains. Yoga facilitates the development of impeccable posture, as it’s focused on proper poses and being mindful of your body’s movement.

Energy Boost

Fatigue is something that plagues many people, but with the proper routine, you can combat it. Yoga is one such way to give yourself a much-needed energy boost. By getting your body moving and your blood flowing, and coupling that with the mindful exercises, your energy will increase greatly.

Decreased Stress

If you find yourself stressed beyond belief every day, yoga could be your solution to a less tense mind. Yoga is well known for its ability to manage stress. This is due to its incorporation of mindful breathing, its focus on wellness, and its inclusion of meditation.

Improved Breathing Techniques

No matter what yoga practice you attend, you’ll quickly realize each has an emphasis on breathing. Instructors will guide yogis on when to inhale and exhale, for how long, as well as lauding the importance of deep, full breaths. While this may feel unnatural at first, these healthy breathing techniques will soon become second nature.

Mental Clarity

When it comes to the benefits of yoga, it’s so much more than just the physical improvements. Enhanced mental clarity is one of the most elusive yet beneficial outcomes of a regular yoga practice. By checking in with their body and mental state regularly, yogis develop a mind that can parse even the most overwhelming of situations.