Prior to my impaired driving charge, I enjoyed different fitness activities but frankly, I thought that yoga was an exercise that lacked impact. From my perspective, fitness was for looking good, and feeling good, but moving my body slowly for 30-minutes seemed to be fitness time wasted. I thought that those 30-minutes were no match for weightlifting or hiking or swimming. Boy was I wrong!
Yoga is considered a gentle practice, but it also offers remarkable benefits for athletes and non-athletes alike, including greater flexibility, balance, coordination, mobility and strength, thereby enhancing your body’s ability to prevent injury and do everything better! As a bonus, mindfulness and focus are improved with the practice of yoga.
Yoga is an ancient practice that combines physical poses, breathwork, and meditation, at an intensity that really depends on the yogi (the person practicing yoga)! The practice involves slow movements, combined with breathing and mindfulness. In yoga, the physical poses are called asanas, the breathing practice is called pranayama, and the meditation elements are called dyana.
Yoga practice can range from slow and relaxed to intense and physical, involving advanced poses – as well as everything in between! This is why yoga attracts such a diverse demographic, ranging from young children, right up to senior citizens 100+.
Why Start a Yoga Practice
Many yogis begin practicing to improve muscle tone, create better sleep, increase energy levels, reduce inflammation (particularly joints and muscles) and to better their overall health, self-image and confidence.
After investing in a consistent practice for a few weeks, most yogi’s agree that they observe mental health benefits such as less anxiety and stress, more consistent and stable emotional health, better self-esteem, and increased overall harmony.
How to Start the Yoga Journey
If you feel up to it, join a beginner’s class at your local studio. You will find that most studios provide a welcoming, peaceful experience with a lot of support and education. Alternatively, there are many options for beginners and more advanced yogi’s online (YouTube’s Yoga with Adriane is amazing)!
It is advisable to speak to your physician before undertaking any new fitness regimes, and although Yoga is generally safe, injuries can occur. To minimize risk, here are some tips to be mindful of:
Choose to work with experienced instructors either privately or in a group setting and inform your instructor if you’re pregnant or have chronic pain.
Avoid extreme poses like headstands or advanced dynamic poses.
Use reinforcements such as furniture, walls and the floor to support yourself while doing poses, as you increase your balance, strength and stability.
Listen to your body, if you have pain, cramps or discomfort, scale back and rest. If pain persists, seek the advice of a health care practitioner.
Stay hydrated, and stretch before and after.
For folks with health conditions, studies suggest that yoga can ease chronic pain and menopausal symptoms.
Check out Little Lyon Media for more information about yoga, meditation, tai chi and other meditative options to manage stress and anxiety and improve your overall health.
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