Practicing yoga regularly offers a number of benefits. One benefit rarely discussed is how yoga affects your hormones. It’s no secret yoga reduces stress and increases relaxation – both helpful when it comes to managing hormones. With the right knowledge, you can create an effective yoga practice that will help keep your hormones in check.
The hormones yoga affects
Yoga is more than just an enjoyable physical activity; it can also have a positive effect on your hormones. When you do yoga regularly, your body releases hormones that can help reduce stress, boost energy levels, and increase your overall sense of well-being. Let’s take a look at some of the hormones released during yoga and how they can benefit you.
Endorphins
Endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers. They are released when we feel pleasure, such as during exercise or after achieving something difficult. Endorphins interact with receptors in the brain to produce feelings of euphoria and reduce stress and anxiety. They play an important role in helping us manage our emotions and cope with difficult situations.
The effects of endorphins can be felt almost immediately after a yoga session. The physical movements involved in yoga release endorphins into the bloodstream, providing a feeling of calmness and relaxation. Additionally, since endorphin levels remain elevated for up to several hours after a yoga session, regular practice will help you stay relaxed for longer periods of time.
Cortisol
Cortisol is often referred to as the “stress hormone” because it is released in response to stressful situations. It is an important hormone that is necessary for our bodies to function, but too much can be detrimental. High levels have been linked to negative health effects such as weight gain, mood swings, and insomnia. Fortunately, regular yoga practice has been shown to lower cortisol levels by reducing stress and calming the mind. In addition to its physical benefits, this reduction in cortisol can also make it easier for you to focus on tasks at hand without being overwhelmed by stress or anxiety.
Serotonin
Serotonin is another hormone released during yoga sessions that has positive effects on our mental health. is responsible for regulating moods and reducing feelings of depression or sadness. It also helps us feel more alert and focused by increasing our energy levels and improving cognitive functions like memory and concentration. Regularly practicing yoga will help increase serotonin production in your body so that you can enjoy these benefits even when not doing yoga!
How to get the most out of yoga for balancing hormones
If you are looking to get the most out of yoga for your hormone health, there are some tips and tricks you can use.
First, practice yoga regularly to ensure that your hormones stay balanced. Even if you only have 10-15 minutes a day, make sure to take that time for yourself! Not only will this help keep your hormones in check, but it will also provide a moment of rejuvenation and relaxation.
Additionally, practice yoga poses targeting different areas of the body to ensure that you are getting the full benefit from yoga. This can include standing poses for core strength and balance, twists for digestive health, forward bends for calming hormones such as cortisol, or inverted poses for elevated moods.
Finally, yoga can be made even more beneficial for hormone health if you practice it with a yoga friend – doing yoga with someone else has been shown to increase the positive effects of yoga! Check out our LIVE streaming classes to get the feeling of practicing in a yoga studio at home.
Yoga poses to balance hormones
Here is a list of poses you can do to balance your hormones. Scroll to the end of this post to watch a short stress-relieving yoga class with Kino.
- Bhujangasana (cobra pose)
- Supta padangusthasana (reclining hand to big toe pose)
- Shalabhasana (locust pose)
- Ardha chandrasana (half moon pose)
- Balasana (child’s pose)
- Simple bridge pose
- Ustrasana (camel pose)
- Prasarita padottanasana (standing wide-legged forward bend)
- Supta badha konasana (reclining bound angle pose)
- Legs up the wall pose
- Savasana
Tips for incorporating yoga for balancing hormones into your daily routine
If you want to get the most out of yoga for your hormone health, it is important to incorporate yoga into your daily routine in a way that best suits you.
Start by setting aside 10-15 minutes a day for yoga, and commit to yourself that you will practice yoga during this time. Making a commitment to practice just a few minutes makes it easier for you to succeed.
Put your yoga mat in a place where it is visible and easily accessible. This will take away an obstacle to practicing, and seeing your mat on a regular basis will act as a reminder to get it out and practice.
Finally, keep track of your progress by writing down any noticeable changes in your mood or energy levels after yoga – this can help you feel motivated to continue with yoga and also identify which yoga poses work best for you!
Overall, yoga is a great way to improve your hormone health naturally. By incorporating yoga into your daily routine, you can reduce cortisol levels in the body and increase serotonin production, leading to an improved sense of well-being overall. So why not give yoga a try today? You may just find yourself feeling better than ever before!
Photo by Oluremi Adebayo: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-meditating-in-the-outdoors-2908175/
