4 benefits of yoga and meditation

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to improving your mental health — but a range of different techniques work for different people. One popular stress-buster is combining meditation and yoga, integrating physical workouts with mindfulness principles in order to realign the body and mind.

Even if that sounds a little spiritual for your tastes, the science is there — mindful yoga has almost too many purported health benefits to count, on top of being a relaxing activity to enjoy with friends and family. 

So, if you’re looking to learn a little more about how yoga could change your life for the better, and even open up new career opportunities down the line, you’re in the right place. Join us as we count down the top four benefits of yoga and meditation.

What are the benefits of yoga with meditation?

1. Lowers stress & improves mood

Perhaps the most common reason people love meditation and yoga is that they help to improve mental well-being. In countless studies, the two have been shown to reduce stress levels, improve mood, and assist in the regulation of mood swings and menopause-related dips.

What’s more, the benefits of meditative yoga are likely to be more pronounced when practised in a group setting. Many social activities help to stimulate the release of serotonin in our brains — also known as the ‘happy hormone’. While the link isn’t totally black and white, research has found that when there’s more serotonin acting on the receptors in your brain, you may experience increased feelings of happiness, stability and calmness.

2. Reduces blood pressure

Blood pressure is another variable that can have implications for both physical and mental health. High blood pressure is associated with several different conditions on either side of the divide — whether it’s stroke and heart disease or depressive symptoms and low well-being.

However, various studies have linked meditation to clinically significant reductions in blood pressure. And while mindfulness can help to relax the body and promote positive emotions, yoga workouts create enough of a demand on our blood vessels and muscles that we grow more physically fit with time. As a result, many choose to take up the two together to ease their minds and bodies back into exercise, especially after illness, injury or pregnancy.

3. Boosts energy levels

Exercise in any form can help you to feel more invigorated. A short session of yoga each day is especially beneficial when combined with meditation, as the joint effects of these de-stressing practices can leave you feeling calm and energised enough to take on the day.

The concept of ‘unlocking energy’ is actually a key principle in yoga. The Art of Living explains that “yoga increases ‘prana’ or life force energy in the body by removing blockages along the spinal cord and smoothen the energy flow”. If you struggle to fit exercise around your working day, boosting energy levels without taking on an arduous workout seems like a win-win.

4. Relieves symptoms of mental illness

Mindful yoga could also help to alleviate some of the symptoms associated with life-impairing mental health conditions, such as dementia. The NHS defines dementia as “a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning”, which may bear consequences for memory, task performance and judgement. The condition is estimated to affect nearly one million people in the UK.

However, the outlook for mindfulness-based interventions for dementia is hopeful. In one review of treatments, researchers found that those predisposed to the illness showed a trend towards improved cognition, quality of life and well-being if they received a mindfulness-based treatment. Yoga and meditation have also been linked to symptom alleviation for other conditions such as schizophrenia, depression and insomnia.

Can I become a yoga teacher?

Once you’ve discovered the joys of meditation and yoga, you may be keen to learn more and share the benefits with others. This can make for a rewarding career path if you choose to become a yoga teacher. And you don’t have to be a veteran yogi to do the job well — you just need some passion, an accredited yoga qualification, and the necessary legal cover. If you’re not sure where to start, we can help — we’ve written a full guide on how to become a yoga teacher.

As for the legal side of things, Holistic Gold provides comprehensive cover for all things yoga and meditation insurance. Our plans ensure that when you’re practising as an instructor, you and your clients are protected against any potential incidents, such as injury, theft, or damage to your studio or equipment. This includes public liability cover, professional treatment risk insurance, products liability and financial loss insurance.

With Holistic Gold, you can hold on to the peace of mind that yoga and meditation have given back to you. Get a quote today and learn more about how we protect businesses just like yours with comprehensive yoga and meditation insurance.