The Mental and Physical Benefits of Yoga
The practice of yoga offers numerous benefits, both mental and physical, to everyone who practices this style of exercise. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be super flexible in order to take a yoga class! A well-trained teacher will offer variations to suit everyone in the room so that each pose is accessible to all.
How it Works
In class, students may be guided through breathing exercises to bring their attention to the present moment, which allows your worries and distractions to fall away. Sometimes meditation, a practice in focusing attention on one thing (like stillness, quiet or repeating a word) is included, which helps to increase attention and focus.
Students will be encouraged to honor where they are physically and emotionally right now instead of stretching or pushing your limits to get where you feel like you should be. The goal is to quiet the ego. Taming the ego can be like taming a wild beast, but yoga instructors love the challenge!
WHAT IT CAN TEACH YOU
The practice of honoring where you are right now, both physically and emotionally, is a valuable one because it teaches self-awareness and self-acceptance. It allows for safe movement and gradual improvement in muscle strength and flexibility. It fosters growth in kindness, openness, caring and confidence in ourselves… and it does all this while reducing stress.
A yoga practice will often move the body through all planes of motion, with careful care of the spine (the home of the nervous system), which boosts immune function. Most times, yoga classes end with Savasana or corpse pose, a deep relaxation technique for systematically releasing tension from the body and allowing the body and mind to rest. This is where the most delicious rejuvenation happens.
WHY I LOVE IT
The practice of yoga is just that: a practice. Something that can be tried again and again with a different result every time. What you can be sure of is that both your mental and physical needs will be met on the mat, and the effects will transfer over into your everyday life.
I mean, what other form of exercise focuses on tightening your ass while simultaneously getting your head out of it? :)