A short answer is that Yoga and Pranayam (Breath Control) makes you feel better. Practicing the postures, breathing exercises and meditation heals the body, mind and spirit. Yoga and Pranayam (Breath Control) lets you tune in, chill out, and shape up, all at the same time.
For many people, that's enough of an answer. But there's more if you're interested.
For starters, Yoga and Pranayam (Breath Control) are good for all ailments. Research shows that Yoga and Pranayam (Breath Control) help control anxiety, arthritis, asthma, backache, blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, headaches, and heart diseases.
What can Yoga and Pranayam (Breath Control) do for you?
The Physical Benefits:
Creates a toned, flexible, and strong body
Improves respiration, energy and vitality
Helps to maintain a balanced metabolism
Promotes cardio and circulatory health
Relieves pain
Helps you look and feel younger
Improves athletic performance.
The Mental Benefits:
Helps you relax and handle stressful situations easily
Teaches you to quiet the mind so you can focus your energy where you want it to go, on a difficult yoga asana, on the tennis court or golf course, or in the office
Encourages positive thoughts and self acceptance.
The Spiritual Benefits:
Builds awareness of the body, feelings, the world around and the needs of others
Promotes interdependence between mind, body, and spirit
Helps you live the concept of "oneness"
Other Benefits of Yoga & Pranayam (Breath Control):
The most important benefit of Yoga and Pranayam (Breath Control) is physical and mental therapy. The aging process, which is largely an artificial condition, caused mainly by auto-intoxication of self-poisoning, can be slowed down by practicing Yoga. By keeping the body clean, flexible and well lubricated, we can significantly reduce the catabolic process of cell deterioration. To get the maximum benefits of Yoga one has to combine the practices of YOGA ASANAS, PRANAYAM (Breath Control) AND MEDITATION. Regular practice of Yoga asanas, Pranayam (Breath Control) and Meditation can help curve diverse ailments such as diabetes, blood pressure, digestive disorders, arthritis, arteriosclerosis, chronic fatigue, asthma, varicose veins and heart conditions. Laboratory tests have proved the yogi's increased abilities of consciously controlling autonomic or involuntary functions, such as temperature, heart beat and blood pressure. Research into the effects of yogic practices on HIV is currently under way.
Why are Yoga and Pranayam (Breath Control) successful?
According to medical scientists, Yoga and Pranayam (Breath Control) therapy is successful because of the balance created in the nervous and endocrine systems which directly influences all the other systems and organs of the body.
Yoga acts both as a curative and preventive therapy. The very essence of Yoga and Pranayam (Breath Control) lies in attaining mental peace, improved concentration powers, a relaxed state of living and harmony in relationships. Through the practice of Yoga and Pranayam (Breath Control), we become aware of the interconnectedness between our emotional, mental and physical levels. Gradually this awareness leads to an understanding of the more subtle areas of existence. The ultimate goal of Yoga and Pranayam (Breath Control) is to make it possible to fuse together the gross material (Annamaya), Physical (Pranamaya), mental (Manomaya), intellectual (Vigyanamaya) and spiritual (Anandamaya) levels with the being.
