The benefits of yoga are undeniable, and there are countless reasons to offer yoga classes at your spa. Here is one more: allergy relief. It is March and spring is in the air, and, unfortunately, so are many common allergens. Data shows asthma and allergies rates are rising each year. Dr. Sara Gottfried says yoga may help to treat the root cause of asthma, which is inflammation.1According to Gottfried, asthma is caused by inflammation in the bronchial tubes. She explains that this inflammation is chronic and is often exacerbated by stress. Stress can lead to elevated cortisol levels and hormone imbalances, which can contribute to an increase in inflammation throughout the body. In studies, yoga has been shown to decrease inflammation in the body. Those individuals who practiced yoga showed lower stress levels, lower inflammatory responses, and lower levels of anxiety. Yoga participants may be better prepared to handle illness and stress too. That is because yoga was shown to increase didehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), improve heart rate variability (HRV), and raise serotonin levels. Hatha and Iyengar yoga seem particularly useful when it comes to treating inflammation and stress. Adding these classes to your spa’s schedule this spring may help clients suffering from allergies or asthma to breathe in some relief, which may lead to fuller classes and bigger profits for your business. References1 Gottfried, Sara, M.D. “Just Breathe.” Gottfried Institute. 07 May 2013. Web. 30 Jan 2014. Breathe in Allergy ReliefWant to read more? Subscribe to one of our monthly plans to continue reading this article.