Benefits of Yoga
Yoga has many benefits, from improving physical health to supporting mental well-being and developing a spiritual practice. So, if you're curious about dipping a toe into a yoga practice this year, here are my top five reasons to roll out your mat today.
Yoga develops physical strength.
When people think of yoga, they often think of the Instagram culture of yoga, which idolises crazy backbends, handstands and arm balances. However, yoga is deeply rooted in Indian spiritual practices, developing physical and emotional strength and cementing healthy habits to last a lifetime.
The physical practice, known as Asana, allows you to build strength using your body weight. This means you don't need additional equipment, like weights or dumbells, to get a whole-body workout. Instead, it helps you build strength that you can use in everyday activities on and off the mat.
Yoga regulates your nervous system response.
We live busier and busier lives with heightened stress levels, which can result in illnesses like chronic stress if left unmanaged.
Yoga helps to rebalance the autonomic nervous system, which controls our heart, breath and keeps us functioning at our best. It not only re-energises the body through physical activity but also activates the parasympathetic nervous system (our rest and digest system) to allow us to relieve the body of stress and heal.
It can get you out of a funky mood.
It's rare to hear of someone who regrets attending a yoga session when they've been in a bad mood all day. That's because you must be fully present when concentrating on a sequence of postures and connecting to your breath. So, this stops you from ruminating on whatever had put you into a bad mood in the first place -smart, right?
For those who are a bit geeky, a recent Boston University Medical Centre study even found that yoga improved mood more than walking and other forms of exercise. This is potentially due to higher levels of a natural mood-boosting chemical called GABA being produced by people when participating in the activity.
It's suitable for all levels and abilities.
A great thing about yoga is that it can be scaled to your abilities. Our bodies don't feel the same every day, so that you can scale your practice depending on your mood, energy levels and physical abilities.
In my classes and online bundles, I offer alternative postures to suit a range of abilities. And for those who need more time to begin a physical practice, breathing is a great place to start. I offer a range of breathwork activities to allow you to connect inward and feel the benefits of yoga without an asana practice.
You can do it anytime, anywhere.
You can practice yoga wherever you like if you've got a basic yoga mat. It doesn't require a lot of space, and it's incredibly travel-friendly. After a busy day travelling, I love to find a quiet spot, roll out my mat and stretch out those tight and achy muscles.
This is why I created my online offerings: You can practice with me anywhere in the world and aren't restricted by a specific class time. If you're interested in learning about what's included in a yoga bundle pack, head here for more information.
