If you’ve never tried inversion therapy before, it’s about time to start reaping its magnificent benefits. Inversion therapy is incredibly effective to the extent that the US Army is planning to add it to its physical training regimens.
Even a few minutes of inversion therapy can do wonders for your health. So what’s all this fuss around inversion therapy? Is it really as effective as people claim it to be? Most importantly, what can it do for your wellness? That’s what you’re about to know in this article.
What is inversion therapy?
Let’s start with defining what inversion therapy is. In yoga, inverted poses are those where you elevate your heart over your head. Inverted wheels, handstands, and revolved downward dog are all inverted poses. Inversion therapy involves using this inverted position to alleviate the compressive effects our bodies suffer as a result of daily activities and gravity. When it comes to scientific evidence, it’s been proven how inversion therapy can remarkable benefits on the health of cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, nervous, endocrine, and lymphatic systems. Moreover, practicing inverted poses can be great as a total body exercise.
What are the beneficial effects of inversion therapy
So how, exactly, can inversion therapy aid your wellness? Here are 6 proven benefits of inversion therapy:
Relieving spinal pain
One of the leading reasons chiropractors recommend inversion therapy to their patients is because of its almost magical effects in relieving spinal pain. Most of us develop bad posture when sitting, walking, and lifting heavy objects as we go around our daily activities, and inversion therapy can relieve the pain resulting from these bad habits. Moreover, some fitness and wellness certified coaches can go into detail about how inversion therapy can help alleviate sciatica, lower back pain, and many of the symptoms of scoliosis. This goes beyond just pain management, as inversion therapy can help the practitioner fix their posture and build a healthier and better adjusted musculoskeletal system.
Improving blood circulation
Have you ever felt more focused after lying down with your knees elevated? That’s the effect of the blood rushing to your brain, rather than being pulled down by gravity. Inverted poses help in improving your blood circulation such that more blood, and thus oxygen, reaches your brain. By doing so, you’ll experience improved memory, concentration, observation, and overall brain function.
Improving flexibility
Once you start inversion therapy, you’ll start moving your body in a way you’ve never tried before. In the beginning, it’s likely you’ll experience discomfort or rigid muscles as you stretch your way toward the inverted poses. However, the closer you get to proper posture, the more you’ll stretch your muscles in a beneficial way, and the more flexible you’ll get. All athletes know that improving flexibility is vital in improving muscles and minimising the risk of injury. As a result, you’ll build a well-rounded and healthy body that aids you in every aspect of life.
Improving mental health
If you thought that inversion therapy can only improve your physical health, think again. Inversion therapy helps improve all bodily functions: it improves circulation, promotes the release of neurotransmitters, balances hormones, enhances muscular coordination, and realigns the spine. All of these benefits serve in regulating the mood and lifting the spirits, which can be beneficial in controlling symptoms of depression, PMS, anxiety, and general mood swings.
Aiding sleep and relaxation
While improving the mood can help in aiding sleep, inversion therapy is recommended in treating insomnia for many other reasons. Inversion therapy is capable of releasing the muscular tension by 35%, which significantly promotes relaxation. Moreover, studies show that inversion therapy can alleviate stress and anxiety. By tackling the roots of insomnia from different angles, you’ll be able to sleep more soundly after turning upside down – even if only for a few minutes.
Other health benefits
As if the previous benefits weren’t remarkable enough, inversion therapy can improve your health in plenty of other ways. For instance, inversion therapy can strengthen your ligaments, which makes the bones stronger.
They’re also believed to improve indigestion and enhance immunity. Since they help fix your posture and spinal health, they can also aid in maintaining height as you age.
Takeaway
Inversion therapy can help you in ways you’ve never imagined possible. It works by holding your heart in an elevated position. By doing so, it can alleviate spinal pain, improve posture, promote blood circulation, enhance flexibility, improve mental health, and promote better sleep. There are plenty of other health benefits to inversion therapy as well. Perhaps looking at life upside down is really the best way to live, after all.
Tommy Willia did her degree in psychology at the University of Edinburgh. She is interested in mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
