Yoga for Smokers - As a tool to quit smoking
Smokers who wish to quit the habit can find it quite hard to kick the habit and often spend months or even years struggling to stay clean. Yoga has of late come to symbolize hope for those who wish to quit smoking. Any yoga practitioner can testify to the healing power of yoga. It offers a variety of health benefits through its peculiar, distinctive physical and breathing exercises. Despite the fact that yoga practice is so beneficial it does not require any extra effort, in fact quite the contrary; yoga can be practiced by anyone as it is a personal practice that takes into account the practitioner’s physical limitations and capacity, and actually hones those skills that are lacking. Moreover yoga does not require any major equipment or expensive gym membership. Time constraints are a common accuse to shirk our responsibilities to ourselves, but there can be no such excuse for yoga as just 20 minutes of practice, done thrice a week, would suffice.
So, how effective is yoga as a tool to quit smoking? You’d be surprised to find that it is one of the most effective methods of quitting, as it not only helps you overcome your addiction, but also helps you overcome the withdrawal symptoms and nicotine dependence that are normally so problematic for those who quit smoking. It is widely accepted that exercise has a positive influence on those trying to quit smoking, with even a daily five minute walk helping to reduce cravings. Moderate exercise can help significantly and even more so, yoga. This is because yoga surpasses other physical fitness routines on account of its being so much more than a physical routine. It involves exercise and stretching, in combination with meditation and introspection, enabling the practitioner to derive tranquility and inner peace. It inculcates physical strength but more importantly it builds your inner strength, focus and will power, enabling you to ward of any cravings much more effectively.
Breath control and exercises are an integral aspect of yoga practice and this fact makes it even more relevant to smokers. Many people find smoking relaxing, mainly because of the inhaling and exhaling aspect that it encourages. Yoga encourages the same reflexes in its breath exercises, but without the nicotine. It therefore in a way compensates for the lost method of relaxation, with a far deeper and healthier relaxation. Breath exercises are commonly used as a stress reduction technique and physical exercise is also helpful for stress. Yoga being a combination of the two is so much more effective and can calm the senses, improve circulation, and stimulate the central nervous system.
Apart from the fact that yoga helps smokers quit the habit it also minimizes the damage and helps restore health. Yoga practices improve your lung capacity and also strengthen them, alleviating the ill effects of smoking to a certain extent.
So, how effective is yoga as a tool to quit smoking? You’d be surprised to find that it is one of the most effective methods of quitting, as it not only helps you overcome your addiction, but also helps you overcome the withdrawal symptoms and nicotine dependence that are normally so problematic for those who quit smoking. It is widely accepted that exercise has a positive influence on those trying to quit smoking, with even a daily five minute walk helping to reduce cravings. Moderate exercise can help significantly and even more so, yoga. This is because yoga surpasses other physical fitness routines on account of its being so much more than a physical routine. It involves exercise and stretching, in combination with meditation and introspection, enabling the practitioner to derive tranquility and inner peace. It inculcates physical strength but more importantly it builds your inner strength, focus and will power, enabling you to ward of any cravings much more effectively.
Breath control and exercises are an integral aspect of yoga practice and this fact makes it even more relevant to smokers. Many people find smoking relaxing, mainly because of the inhaling and exhaling aspect that it encourages. Yoga encourages the same reflexes in its breath exercises, but without the nicotine. It therefore in a way compensates for the lost method of relaxation, with a far deeper and healthier relaxation. Breath exercises are commonly used as a stress reduction technique and physical exercise is also helpful for stress. Yoga being a combination of the two is so much more effective and can calm the senses, improve circulation, and stimulate the central nervous system.
Apart from the fact that yoga helps smokers quit the habit it also minimizes the damage and helps restore health. Yoga practices improve your lung capacity and also strengthen them, alleviating the ill effects of smoking to a certain extent.