Three Ways Yoga Can Balance Women’s Hormones

Yoga is great for relaxation, toning the body and weight loss. In addition, it offers an added benefit for women.

There are three ways that yoga can help balance women's hormones:

#1 Yoga can ease hot flashes in menopausal women

An Indian study, that included 120 women, revealed a connection between yoga and the reduction of hot flashes. The study found that women who participated in yoga (incorporated with breathing exercises and meditation) five days a week, for an hour each time, reduced hot flashes and night sweats by 50 percent when compared to those who solely did stretching exercises.

The group that did yoga also reported an improvement in memory; whereas the group that performed stretches did not.

Sun Salutations is a great way to incorporate yoga into your daily routine.

#2 Yoga helps relieve anxiety and improve mood

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) concluded that yoga may be superior to alternative types of exercise when it comes to relieving anxiety and uplifting the mood.

The study compared gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels of those who practiced yoga with those who walked. Low GABA levels are linked to depression and anxiety disorders.

The 12-week long study involved two groups of healthy people. The groups were divided into those who participated in yoga, and those who walked. Each group exercised three times a week, for an hour at a time. The participants' brains were scanned with magnetic resonance spectroscopic (MRS) before the study. At the end of the study, researchers analyzed the GABA levels of each group before and after their hour-long session.

Each person also had to evaluate her mood at several stages throughout the study.

Those who did yoga reported a more substantial decrease in anxiety, and more significant improvements in mood than those who walked. An associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at Boston University School of Medicine, Chris Streeter, MD, said, "Over time, positive changes in these reports were associated with climbing GABA levels."

#3 Yoga can improve a women's libido

Sadie Nardini, the yoga instructor and co-owner of The Fierce Club in New York City, recommends The Kneeling Core Plank to help women improve their libido. Sadie states, "By working your pelvic floor muscles along with the glutes, waist, thighs, abs and arms, you'll feel more like taking your clothes off, and then be even more glad you did!"

Choose yoga for flexibility, relaxation, toning, weight loss and hormone balance.

Sources:

Health Magazine (at Health.com)

Science Daily

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Rebecca completed courses in Medical Terminology, Administrative Medical Assisting, and Coding and Billing. She is recognized by the National Healthcareer Association as a Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) and Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA). In addition, Rebecca is a former gymnast and is avid about swimming, jogging, and other athletic activities.

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