Physical benefits of yoga on vacation

If you are planning to practice yoga while on your travels, certain health problems will specifically benefit. For instance, there is good evidence that yoga can help in the management of chronic low back pain, with practicing yoga shown to reduce both pain and disability. Although results have not been quite so promising with regards to arthritis, anyone suffering from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia may still benefit from yoga as part of their treatment. Looking beyond the positive impact that yoga may have on the joints, this activity can benefit your breathing too. Not only do yogic breathing techniques aid relaxation, but they help to improve lung function among people with asthma and may also be useful in the management of other respiratory conditions such as COPD. It’s not just lung function that may improve, but cardiac function may also be enhanced through yoga. Blood pressure, pulse rate and cholesterol levels have all been shown to be lowered as a result, which will be welcome news for anyone suffering from a heart condition. Fatigue is also commonly experienced by people with a range of long-term conditions, including cancer, MS, chronic infections and mental health problems, and yoga may additionally help to reduce feelings of tiredness. However, despite these many benefits of yoga, it is important that you advise your teacher of your ailments before you begin a session, as they need to be familiar with your health to ensure that you get most out of the classes while preserving your well-being.

You may be aware that your medical condition is affected by the weather, temperature and season. With this knowledge you can choose where and when you travel to a yoga retreat accordingly. For instance, if you suffer from asthma, cold and windy weather, as well as a humid environment can trigger attacks. However, a sudden change in temperature can also bring on an attack, as may pollen and air pollution. That’s a lot of factors to consider, but in this instance, visiting an area with a warmer climate with more settled weather would be a good idea, as would visiting outside of the pollen season and avoiding any built-up areas. Weather is also known to have an impact on the symptoms of rheumatic diseases, with low pressure conditions increasing joint pain among those with osteoarthritis, while a fall in temperature triggers pain in rheumatoid arthritis. If you are unsure which climate would be most favorable for your existing health problems, discuss these with your doctor before booking your vacation.