Yoga might be intimidating if you've never tried it out before. With all its intricate poses and having to hold still, the non-flexible and restless might find that it might be too much of a challenge.

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Just like every other thing that requires practice, yoga lets us progress through movement. No matter our level, we reap many health benefits along the way and better ourselves until we’re able to go through flows and sequences we thought weren’t possible. But before we get there, here’s a fact that others might not believe: yoga is for everyone. Anybody can do it with just a little patience and continuous practice! With the benefits listed below, it’s hard to see why someone might just pass up on the opportunity to try: 

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1. It helps decrease stress.

Yoga can make you feel less stressed and more relaxed. Most yoga sessions let you focus on your breathing, which can help you clear your mind. By helping you find inner peace and being in the moment, yoga may even help reduct anxiety. Studies show that lower cortisol or stress hormone levels were found in frequent yoga practitioners!

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If you're feeling stressed or anxious, try Yoga for Stillness with Coach Ivy.

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2. It can help reduce pain.

Practicing yoga is a great way to reduce pain and muscle soreness. It helps loosen tight muscles to improve mobility for those with arthritis or previous injuries. Apart from this, it helps soothe pain associated with hormonal imbalance. Because it facilitates blood circulation around the body, it also helps alleviate menstrual cramps and pregnancy pains.

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Great practices you can try when dealing with pain are Yoga for Lower Back Pain with Coach Jo, or for those expecting and new moms, we suggest Pre- and Post-Natal Chair Stretch with Coach Isabel.

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3. It promotes better sleep.

If you’re having trouble falling asleep at night, yoga might be your answer! Aside from helping decrease your cortisol levels, studies show that yoga can increase melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. Better sleep has tremendous benefits for your overall physical health, mental health, muscle recovery, and the list goes on!

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Try out Yoga to Unwind and Restore with Coach Val, and see if your sleep quality improves.

4. It improves flexibility and balance.

It's been tried and tested: yoga is a great way to improve flexibility. This is because it stretches and strengthens muscles at the same time, which allows you to move better and feel less stiff over time. What’s great about this is that enhanced flexibility can be noticed already a couple of weeks after you start doing yoga. So, practicing for even just 15-30 minutes a day can go a long way!

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If you want to increase flexibility and balance, try out Coach Kitkat’s Yoga Mobility Flow.

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5. It increases strength.

In addition to improving flexibility, yoga is great for improving strength, as some poses are specifically designed to build strength and muscle. Research also shows that yoga can increase upper body strength and endurance, which can lead to weight loss and a lower body fat percentage after continuous practice.

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If you’re looking for strength building yoga practices, try Coach Val's Yoga for Full-Body Strength!

What are you waiting for? Grab a mat, a water bottle and try out our wide variety of yoga classes on REBEL!

Download the REBEL App for free to start your health and fitness journey today.

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REBEL is the #1 Health and Fitness App in the Philippines with a growing community of over 200,000 users. Made with Filipinos in mind, REBEL helps you reach your health goals any time and anywhere by combining the best of fitness, food, and wellness into one app for free.