5 Benefits of Yoga
Yoga offers a lot of benefits that can tremendously improve your well-being. However, yoga is more about the journey, rather than results. If you’re planning to adopt a fulfilling practice that will teach you kindness, resilience and self-love, then yoga would be an ideal fit. Yoga is also a crucial part of mindfulness, a state of being conscious of the present moment. When you’re aware of the present, you’re also aware of yourself, your potential and your inner strength and spirit.
Trying yoga for the first time can be an amazingly liberating experience and if you’re looking to free yourself from the pain of past trauma and suffering then a continued practice is well worth it. Consider the below benefits of yoga to get a greater understanding of it and how it can help you along your journey.
BREATH AWARENESS
Breathing is a fundamental part of yoga, so if you haven’t been paying attention to the way you breathe during your practice, it’s time to start. Doing meditation can help you get in tune with your breath and grasp control over your thoughts. Breathing consciously will help you deal with various difficult circumstances that present within your body and mind such as panic attacks from PTSD, chronic stress and menopausal symptoms, as you’ll feel more in control over your emotions, nervous system and your well-being in general. Keep in mind, the harder the pose the more difficult it will be to breathe so what’s ultimately important is that through your practice you only ever enter into the depth of a pose where your breath is still steady, full and you are able to be present to it. If the breath is caught or made shallow due to difficulty then you are straining yourself and need to pull back. Keep your ego in check. Relaxing postures such as an easy forward fold, cat-cow, child’s pose or savasana bring relief and opportunity to restore the deep and steady breath if you’ve overdone yourself.
2. INCREASES YOUR STRENGTH
Your body is your sanctuary and it should be treated as such. Everything you do should work in favour of your physical, mental and spiritual strength. Regular exercise is great, but it’s often goal-oriented, whereas yoga is more about the journey itself and learning to enjoy the process. Doing complicated postures isn’t a goal, it’s a process that allows you to learn more about your inner strength and also fall in love with your body and on a deeper level, your soul. Once you become aware of your abilities, you’ll be more confident and empowered to tackle all the challenges that come your way.
3. ATTUNES FOCUS
We live in an age of perpetual distractions that are damaging to our mental health, especially when it comes to focus and productivity. A quick yoga session can be of great help - it might help you reset and recharge, which is a great benefit if you have a lot on your plate. Therefore, next time you feel like nothing is going your way, remember that a bit of mindful stretching can be the best way to unwind and become more attuned with your inner self.
4. HEALTHY LIFE HABITS
We all undergo difficult sets of experiences and challenges as well as moments of imbalance, even more so with a global pandemic that forced us with lockdowns to self-isolate and spend our precious moments glued to our screens or making do with what we could in limited spaces. Some now have become even more reliant on screens to provide their entertainment and occupation. To bring and restore balance, yoga can be a lovely life and home companion. Yoga only requires a functional mat and your own willpower. Ideally also a good teacher but those can be found freely or cheaply with online classes. So to brighten your day, encourage yourself to bring in even a little daily yoga practice to your routine. You can work progressively to intensify the amount you do, using it as your own movement medicine as needed.
5. FIND SELF LOVE
Self-love and self-acceptance always go hand-in-hand. Doing yoga regularly will show you how to accept your true self as you are. As long as you remember to follow your own path, you will be able to utilise your practice to serve your best interests and higher self. You’ll also be able to let go of everything that doesn’t serve you anymore as it helps us to shed what is no longer necessary. Self-acceptance is possible when you realise your true potential and the resilience of your spirit. No matter what waits around the corner, yoga will always be there to welcome you with open arms.
