Yoga is just awesome and can do miracles for your health. But why is go great?
1.It’s a great workout.
First of all and most obviously, yoga is a fantastic workout for your body. You can adapt the practices to your own speed and level of comfort. No matter which yoga exercises you choose, the practices will always be part of a great workout routine. There are some fantastic series of movements out there that are perfect for every kind of day and for every kind of person, meaning there’s no reason not to start doing some yoga as soon as you can.
2.Yoga makes you feel better
It’s a simple as that and it is why so many people get hooked on yoga. You will always feel better after a yoga class. Of course, if you start with an advanced class while still a beginner, you might end up feeling frustrated. But pick a suitable class for your level and go in with an open mind and you will feel different, better, more open, present and happier. If you don’t believe me, try it...
3.You’ll be more calm and balanced for the day ahead
If you’re the type of person to hit the snooze button several times then race out the door in a whirlwind with a half-eaten piece of toast in your hand, you’ll appreciate this one. When we start the day in a rushed and scattered way, that invites more of the same energy so you’ll probably find that you hit every red light and arrive late to wherever you're going.
If you get up a little earlier (I know, I know) and centre yourself on your mat, you create a more calm and balanced internal environment that will probably lead to clarity of mind as well as green lights.
4.It can improve your sleep.
Another minor but pleasant benefit is that doing yoga can actually help you get better sleep. This might be due to the fact that a few sequences of poses and movements are intended to be done right before sleep, but regardless, studies have shown that doing some light physical activity before our heads hit the hay can help us get off to sleep more quickly, which usually leads to a much better quality of sleep.
It also might be due to the fact that if you have problems getting to sleep, working on problem-areas through yoga can help alleviate pain symptoms and increase the likelihood of better sleep. Another possibility is that most yoga sessions have a cool-down sequence at the end, which can definitely induce some easy slumber. As someone who’s fallen asleep in class many a time–to the point where my mat neighbor and I have a buddy system in case one of us starts snoring–believe me, this really works and should be done at home.
5.Yoga helps you to stay focused
Because your mind will be quieter and clutter-free it is easier to direct the energy to where you want it to go. Yoga mostly moves me from being all over the place, to being able to focus on one thing again. In yoga they say you develop one-pointedness concentration through practice. I can say for sure that it really does happen. You train the mind to become aware and present. Research has even shown that after a yoga class you are generally better able to focus your mental resources, process information more accurately and also learn, hold and update pieces of information more effectively. How about that!
6.Helps You Eat Well During The Day
When you've taken time early on to nourish your body and mind with yoga, you’ll be less inclined to eat emotionally and far more likely to make balanced, healthy choices throughout your day.
7.It will improve your posture.
Yoga is pretty effective at helping you develop some premium, proper posture, since a lot of the breathing and seated positions require a straight back for proper effect. Good posture is definitely going to develop during yoga practice.
You’ll start off slouching and slumped, reflecting the figure of someone who spends most of the day at their desk–believe me, I’ve been there–and yoga will help sculpt your back into the kind of poised posture that’ll make you walk taller and feel immensely better about it.
8.Yoga makes your body strong, supple and healthy
Of course, you need to give it a chance but most people start feeling some of the physical benefits of yoga during their first class. In time (maybe shorter than you think!) your flexibility will increase, your fitness levels improve, your muscles will grow stronger and you'll become more supple. The amount will vary depending on the style you choose. I recommend starting with Hatha yoga as this is the root of most styles of yoga. As your body gets stronger your mind will too. You will feel more self-confident and stronger in yourself.
9.Fires up the metabolism in a natural way
Certain poses stimulate the digestive system and metabolism naturally, particularly twisting postures, throat chakra poses, and dynamic flows. First thing in the morning, before we’ve eaten or added caffeine to our bodies, we get to fire ourselves up in a completely natural way using breath and conscious movement.
Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutes), Setu Bhandasana (Bridge) and Ardha Matsyendrasana (Half Lord of the Fishes) can be a lot better than coffee!
10.Meditation can change your life for the better.
Meditation, meditation, meditation. It’s really the key to all things yoga. Even if you can do every kind of complicated pose under the sun, it loses all of its true meaning if it’s not done with focus and thought. Meditation has been shown time and time again to be a beneficial practice that everyone should implement into their daily routine.
Meditation isn’t necessarily sitting with a bowl of incense and working your way through a book of Tibetan chants in a darkened, candlelit room–rather, you can meditate anywhere quiet and at absolutely any time you like. All it takes is five minutes with some alone time and peace and quiet. Meditation improves your quality of life by allowing your mind some time to process everything that goes on in your life. It’s a hugely important and integral part of yoga practice and something that can really change your life, allowing you to embrace calmness and serenity with ease.
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Sources: www.lifehack.org, www.ekhartyoga.com, www.doyouyoga.com
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