The surprising health benefits to practicing yoga

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Sophia Brauns' high-stress job took a toll on her health, so she quit and started practicing yoga.

"I used to be a lobbyist. I was young and in politics. Something wasn't right. I went to my doctor. I thought, this is not me, I'm too young," Brauns said.

She says once she started practicing, yoga transformed her life. Within months, she says her health improved.

"I juiced. I changed my life. I got out of a situation that I knew was bad for me. And then I took my retirement and paid for a post-bach program because I thought I want to be a doctor. I want to make people aware of their bodies in a way that's real and possible," Brauns said.

Now she is an integrative medicine intern at MD Anderson and a yoga instructor at The Good Space. There she is able to share with others the health benefits of yoga.

"Just from my experience in the ER, There's a link between heart attacks and Mondays , heart attacks and holidays," Brauns said. "Pranayama in yoga is the ability to control different breathing techniques. There's also ways to control your mind."

Studies prove these yoga practices help lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and can help you sleep, a problem many people need help with.

"About 40% of Americans - including children - have trouble sleeping," Brauns said.

Yoga eases the mind and helps with relaxation, but it also combats fatigue during the day. It can also help reduce pain.

"It was proven that women who practiced yoga two years or more had less of a protein called inner-lukin six that is responsible for inflaming our joints," Brauns said.

And the fitness benefits have been talked about for a while now.

"You're moving in ways that aren't just front and back like running. You're holding poses. You're developing strength," Brauns said.

Brauns says adding yoga into your routine just once a week can improve your well-being.