Yoga is a moving form of meditation where practitioners and students link asanas, or poses, with the breath. Originating in India, yoga has been practiced for thousands of years, recently gaining popularity in western cultures. Yoga is best known for stretching and strengthening the body while simultaneously calming the mind.
Long-term benefits are well documented, including lowered blood pressure, decreased stress, decreased weight, and improved fitness and stamina. After one class you might feel more centered, refreshed, energetic and even taller.
Yoga improves sleep by releasing nervous tension, helping to turn off the mind and allowing for deeper relaxation. Breathing and stretching slow down thoughts and pull you into the present, allowing you to live in the moment. This mindfulness carries over into life. If you can breathe through the intensity of a yoga pose, you can take deep breaths when dealing with challenging situations in daily life.
Physical benefits of yoga include increased strength, flexibility, endurance, toned muscles, stronger connective tissue, and a stronger immune system. A single yoga class stretches and tones many different muscles, putting the body back into its natural alignment. These movements also help wring out organs and tissues, improving circulation while helping the body to naturally detoxify and heal itself.
Many yoga classes are designed to benefit people with concerns about exercise including pain, health issues, age limitations, injuries and pregnancy. In fact, most yoga classes are fine for beginners, since you go at your own pace and always have the chance to rest in restorative child’s pose at any time throughout the practice.
In beginner classes, teachers offer modifications for yoga poses. If you are a beginner or have contraindications to exercise, look for classes with the words “gentle,” “restorative,” “beginner,” “all levels,” or “level 1” included in the title. If you would like a more challenging workout, look for names such as “power,” “vinyasa,” “flow,” or “ashtanga,” which are more rigorous forms. These yoga classes can be such a powerful workout that they can actually be used as a primary form of strength training.
So many different forms exist that you should be able to find the right class for you. You will see so many benefits by practicing only 20 minutes per day, or taking an one hour class per week, that you won’t want to stop. Check out local yoga studios in your community, and don’t forget to breathe.