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Yoga is more than a fitness trend. It’s more than cardio exercise or stretching, too. Why? Because yoga is good for your mind, and it can help you cope with stress.

Stress can severely effect your health and mood. People under stress for long periods of time will react by becoming “distressed” which can cause physical symptoms. Distressed persons may have chest pain, stomach problems and elevated blood pressure.

Some people drink to or use drugs to combat stress, which makes the problem even worse. Stress is widespread and blamed for many health problems. In fact, some estimates state that up to 90% of all visits to the doctor’s office are stress related.

Given the impact of stress on the body, it’s no wonder that doctors may recommend yoga to their patients. Some doctors even say that yoga is as important as medicine.

Yoga includes breathing practices which calm the body and mind. It also encourages practitioners to become more in touch with their bodies. It may alleviate problems with self-image, obsessive compulsive disorders, and many other anxiety-related issues.

If you suffer from migraines, for example, yoga can definitely help. But that’s not all: yoga has also helped individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, depression, arthritis and other kinds of physical and mental pain.

Yoga isn’t just for ailments, though. Regular practice can prevent all kinds of health issues and help slow the aging process. As people age, they tend to lose flexibility in their bodies, and stiffness causes pain as well as injuries. In a nutshell: your doctor may recommend yoga, because it’s good for you!