Benefits of yoga: According to a 2012 survey (Trusted Source), 94% of adults who practice yoga do so for wellness reasons. Yoga has many physical and mental benefits, including (Trusted Source):
1. building muscle strength
2. enhancing flexibility
3. promoting better breathing
4. supporting heart health
5. helping with treatment for addiction
6. reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain
7. improving sleep
8. enhancing overall well-being and quality of life
It is advisable to consult a medical professional, if possible, before starting a yoga practice.
Risks and side effects: Many types of yoga are relatively mild and therefore safe for people when a well-trained instructor is guiding the practice.
It is rare (Trusted Source) to incur a serious injury when doing yoga. The most common injuries among people practicing yoga are sprains and strains.
However, people may wish to consider a few risk factors (Trusted Source) before starting a yoga practice.
A person who is pregnant or has an ongoing medical condition, such as bone loss, glaucoma, or sciatica, should consult a healthcare professional, if possible, before taking up yoga.
Some people may need to modify or avoid some yoga poses that could be risky given their specific condition.
Beginners should avoid advanced poses and difficult techniques, such as Headstand, Lotus Pose, and forceful breathing.
When managing a condition, people should not replace conventional medical care with yoga or postpone seeing a healthcare professional about pain or any other medical problem.