Should I Do Yoga? 5 Healthful Reasons to Practice Yoga
One technique that’s brought mindfulness, happiness, and health to citizens worldwide for millennia is the practice of yoga.
Practicing yoga at its core means engaging your body by striking poses and movements that promote mindfulness, strength, balance, and overall well-being to your body.
Originating in India thousands of years ago, this timeless art has become popularized all around the world- and for good reason.
I started doing yoga in college hoping to meet some lady friends, and maybe get a decent workout on the side. Now I go for the workout, and meeting girls is an afterthought!
In this article I’m going to tell you all the ways you should do yoga!
Yoga is a Great Exercise
Yoga is a great way to exercise your body. By holding various poses and engaging your entire body, you soon realize it becomes a full body workout.
Balancing poses specifically increases your core-strength, which is beneficial for good posture and energy.
But not only does it strengthen your muscles and core. It also increases your flexibility, which can be especially helpful for athletes. It’s widely known that many successful athletes and teams practice yoga to make them more competitive and win more games.
Even if you aren’t trying to win a Super Bowl, what’s great about yoga as a workout is that people of all ages can participate!
There’s many different yoga poses, and they all have variations depending on how easy or difficult you want to make your practice.
Seniors especially benefit from modified yoga poses which strengthen their aging bodies and to revitalize their muscles.
Like any exercise, one great effect is improved sleep at night. When you tire out your body, it craves rest so it can build itself back up again. Exercise has long been known to be great for getting restful nights of sleep, among other benefits for your body and mind. Yoga can be this exercise!
Pain Relief
Do you suffer from headaches or pain in your back/neck?
Yoga decreases stress and increases flexibility by decreasing the onrush of cortisol (stress hormones) throughout your body., effectively relaxing your muscles. This decreases inflammation to your joints and removes the constant tension you may feel throughout your body.
Yoga pairs well with physical therapy treatment and is helpful for people recovering from injuries. The combination of slow movements, mild strength, and concious breathing work wonders for your body.
Next time you listen to your body and find your body or mind in a stressful state, do some yoga poses to get relaxed.
Expand Your Social Circle
One great way to connect with your local community is to sign up for yoga classes in a studio or gym near you.
Yoga isn’t a competitive sport, so there aren’t any losers- only winners! As you move and engage your body in conjunction with the class, you become closer with those around you, fostering a welcoming, involved, supportive community.
The more time you spend around the same people, the more comfortable you become with each other. Over time, the people you’re around the most could be some of your best friends!
Different yoga studios and classes near you tend to favor a certain demographic or style of yoga. Pick which one you fit into and try it out! I’ve certainly been to my fair share of senior and middle-aged classes before finding a class that fit me. Nevertheless, all have been warm and welcoming!
Yogis are very receptive and helpful, and would love to have you join their next class!
Yoga Brightens Your Mood
One of my favorite parts about practicing yoga is when I’m holding a pose, dripping sweat onto my yoga mat, feeling my body shaking to keep itself up.
Then, as we’re doing our gravity stretches (laying on the floor doing nothing) and after the lights get turned out, the instructor goes around and passes out cool lavender-scented towels.
The hard work, immediately followed by a relaxing and calming environment, makes you wonder when the next class is!
The human body was designed for motion and movement. When you actively participate in what your bodies was built for, it promotes a feedback loop that makes you want even more.
Helps You Manage Stress
Yoga can be as diverse or rigid as you want the practice to be, but working out your body is truly one of the best ways to promote happiness and reduce stress.
Yoga can take many shapes and forms. It’s your practice, so express yourself and do whatever feels right! No stress required.
When your mind isn’t bogged down with negative thoughts and feelings, you begin to see how great your life really is! You have total control over your yoga session, so get creative.
Yoga is so engaging that you don’t have time to think about anything else! You become so focused on holding poses and maintaining steady breathing that you don’t think about other responsibilities. It’s a form of active meditation!
If you decide to practice yoga in your home, one of the benefits is that it’s free! You don’t have to worry about paying for a monthly membership or wonder if you can make the next available class. Just do it wherever it fits in your schedule.
Pick Your Style
There are different yoga types and poses that focus on certain aspects of practice, such as balance, pain relief, etc. If you want to get a specific result out of your practice, find out which poses you should incorporate into your session.
Having a teacher guide you can be very helpful, and there are endless amounts of yoga videos online.
If you have all your poses written down or memorized, do them at your own leisure. Find the closest carpeted or grassy area near you and get started!
An At-Home Yoga Session
There are as many types of yoga practices as there are fish in the sea. If you don’t like the first yoga session you do, try something else!
Below is a video for you to complete a beginner’s basic yoga session that you can do in the comfort of your home.
Overall, yoga is a great because it:
Keeps you healthy
Elevates your mood
Helps you deal with stress.
Pairs great with other exercises such as weight lifting and running.
Gets you more involved in your community.
Helps with recovery and with managing pain
Practicing yoga makes me happy, and I’m sure you’ll find similar results.
Click here to find yoga classes near you!
