It is very common due to our lifestyle and to the way in which the world is shifting today, to feel stressed out, anxious, or to feel any other emotion that arises from our fast paced daily lives. We are being constantly exposed to high amounts of information, either at our jobs, on social media, or on the news, etc. Since the moment in which we wake up the first item on our to-do-list is already behind schedule.
But eventually we all get used to it and just do it. But what does this really imply? What's the real cost of living like this? Well, let me break it down for you. The toll is actually pretty high. There's a point in which either your body or mind, or maybe both say e n o u g h. And this is where yoga comes in. Hopefully, you don't need to go through this process before you hear about yoga or for you try out a class. But it's very common to embark on your yoga journey after some sort of culmination point in your life. So, why yoga?
Yoga has been around for thousands of years, and as time goes by its popularity has only been increasing. A yoga practice is much more than a workout, much more than and hour that you allocate to moving your body. A yoga practice is not only a practice, but a way of living.
On the physical level, yoga will help you gain strength, flexibility, reduce inflammation, reduce back pain, improve mobility, improve balance, and you will learn to move your body in ways you never thought you could. But most importantly, it will have an impact on a mental level. Yoga can reduce stress and anxiety, it helps you stay present, it improves sleep, and neuroplasticity and you'll learn how to control your breath. As simple as this sounds, being able to control your breath and being mindful about it, brings great benefits to your life.
There is a misconception that in order to practice yoga you have to be flexible. And this couldn't be further from the truth. Yoga m a k e s you flexible. It's also important to highlight that all bodies are different. Even if we all have the same bones, we don't really have the same bones. And this applies to everything in our bodies. So there are some things that you might not be able to do, or that you might be able, either way, it's ok! And you can always find a way in which to adapt the asanas to your needs, by the use of props or variations.
You may have seen some crazy poses and people bending in ways which seem very unnatural. Why do we do this in yoga? What's the purpose? When I could just go to the gym, right? Well, not really. Being able to move in ways that your brain and body aren't used to doing so, gives you freedom, you can move your body as freely as you'd like. Also, the asanas that challenge us either with balances, strength or flexibility, teach us how to breath through "uncomfortable" situations, how to bare with them, how to find comfort within discomfort. The good part? You can then apply this to every day moments and challenges. You can learn how to breathe peacefully when in stressful situations off the mat. How amazing is this? It's like hacking the system.
To conclude, yoga brings not only physical but also mental benefits and it adapts to anyone. You don't need to be flexible or know anything prior to starting. Yoga is a way of life that will allow you to stay present and to be mindful of your breath. Remember, taking care of yourself first should be a priority. The brighter you shine, the more light you'll be able to shed on others.
Let us know if you've ever tried yoga and how it makes you feel, and if you've never tried it we couldn't recommend it more!
We hope this article inspires you to embark on your yoga journey if you still haven't.
Thank you for reading.
Namaste.