The practice of Yoga dates back to ancient days, with its roots stretching to India millenniums ago.
The purpose of Yoga is to learn how to fuse your body with your mind and spirit. Through this, one has a generally positive mindset about life.
There are various branches of Yoga; however, several people usually strip the spirituality aspect, emphasizing the physical aspect.
Yoga goes beyond being flexible and having the ability to wrap your leg around your neck. It is about pursuing an eternal sense of peace and serenity.
Over the years, the popularity of Yoga globally has been rapidly rising. Research shows that Yoga improves different states of humans, including physiology, psychology, and spirituality. Unlike many other exercises, Yoga is more concerned with your physical health, mental and spiritual health.
The beauty of Yoga is how it can be tailored to your personal needs. It is suited for people of different races, ages, sizes, and abilities.
Different yoga exercises combine a series of poses and stretches that are combined with breathing techniques. Most yoga exercises are very mild and easy-going, and as a result, anyone can take part.
For a long time, you might have thought. Yoga is for a specific group. It is time to reconsider and realign your thoughts on Yoga because it is made for everyone. Here are the reasons you need to make Yoga a part of your daily routine as soon as possible. If you think Yoga might not be for you, I urge you to reconsider. Here are seven of my top reasons why you should start doing Yoga as soon as you can.
Why Yoga should be a habit
Scientifically, it’s been proven that it takes 21 days of doing a particular action for it to become a habit. So that means just 21 days of waking up to do Yoga could see it become a critical part of your day.
Studies show that regular Yoga improves self-control and essentially improves how you relate with people around you.
The peace of mind you enjoy with Yoga ensures that you are more open to people. In addition, as you increase time spent on Yoga, the less stressful you become, according to research.
Essentially, Yoga improves your immunity as you make it a practice. The poses you go through massages your muscles and organs and keep them healthy. In addition, constant breathing and meditation get rid of stress and restlessness.
Get into the habit
It’s important to perceive Yoga as a lifestyle rather than a routine. That way, you enjoy the activity and see it as a part of you.
Making lifestyle changes takes time; hence, you must take small steps. It starts with taking a few minutes in the morning after you wake up. Then, do some meditation and body stretch for starters. You can also repeat before going to bed.
Motivate yourself by investing in yoga accessories such as a yoga mat, water bottle, towel, and workout clothes. Keep all these items in a bag close to your bed so you have easy access to Yoga.
There are different levels of yoga exercises ranging from more intense ones to more relaxing exercises. The type of yoga exercise you choose won’t change that you will need to relax your spirit and keep the mind calm and focused.
Health benefits of yoga
Yoga stretches and strengthens your muscles, making you more flexible and stronger.
You gain more alertness and tend to focus better in your everyday life. Your overall outlook on life improves as you feel and function better.
Yoga can also help improve these conditions:
- Poor blood circulation and High blood pressure – A huge part of Yoga is breathing exercises. Learning how to breathe well opens up your lungs and helps more oxygen into your bloodstream. Also, the relaxing nature of Yoga ensures you reduce stress which is one of the leading causes of blood pressure. If you have asthma, Yoga is the best way to expand your lungs to allow more room for oxygen.
- Osteoporosis – This is a condition that sees your bones become weaker and brittle due to loss of tissue. An academic study in 2009 proved that practicing Yoga increases bone density if done consistently and correctly. This makes your bones stronger and healthier.
- Limited mobility – It is no secret that Yoga makes you more flexible. The constant stretching gives your muscles new possibilities in terms of reach. Your balance and movement also improve with regular Yoga.
- Lower back pain – Yoga has been proven to be one of the best natural remedies for lower back pain. This is because it strengthens the muscles that support the back and spine, such as the paraspinal muscles that help you bend your spine, the multifidus muscles that stabilize your vertebrae, and the transverse abdominis in the abdomen, which also helps stabilize your spine.
- Headaches – By loosening substantial body parts like the shoulder, head, and neck, which carry stress, Yoga can help prevent a headache or even help one recover from symptoms. Research shows that Yoga can be used to help curb pain from migraines and disabilities related to migraines.
- Stress or tension – several studies show that continuous Yoga helps reduce stress and anxiety. Yoga, when done with an open mind, can enhance your mood and overall sense of well-being. Yoga can also help manage symptoms of anxiety and depression, which often occur due to difficult situations.
The different types of Yoga
The exciting thing about Yoga is that it never gets boring because there are so many different types to choose from. Furthermore, each yoga type comes with different movements, which are referred to as poses.
Depending on your level of experience and fitness, you can decide on which yoga type to try:
- Restorative Yoga – This type of Yoga is not too physically engaging as it does not use active postures. Instead, it focuses on the relaxation part of Yoga.
- Ashtanga yoga – A fast-paced and very intense type of Yoga. It’s designed to build your endurance and strength. You do a series of postures in 1 continuous, flowing movement. These movements aren’t done in isolation as you add breathing patterns also.
- Kripalu yoga – Relatively slow motion is involved in this type of gentle Yoga. However, it falls between restorative Yoga and the other vigorous forms of Yoga in terms of intensity.
- Hatha yoga – This type of Yoga focuses a lot more on the force. It stresses strengthening and purifying the body. It involves physical postures (asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayama).
- Iyengar yoga – The focus of this type of Yoga is balance and alignment. It’s very fluid and almost dancelike. Props such as straps, chairs, blankets, and bolsters are used to help in postures.
- Bikram yoga. This is a special type of Yoga which you do in a very hot room. It involves a set of 26 postures that you practice twice per session. First, you do standing, and balance poses. Then you do backbends, forward bends, and twisting postures.
How to get started with Yoga
With the emergence of social media, it has become effortless to find yoga classes.
You have to look around your local community or gyms nearby.
Fitness 1 Gym is an excellent option to explore if you’re looking for yoga centers. It is located at One Airport Square, and yoga classes take place every Saturday at 9 am, or 11 am. For two hours, you can be completely present, self-aware, and cantered. So unwind, de-stress, and connect with yourself.
It would help if you kept in mind what you want to achieve with Yoga, which will inform which style you’ll go for.
Seek counsel from your healthcare advisor before you start partaking in Yoga. It’s a good idea to enroll in Yoga with a more experienced teacher who can help with the techniques and postures. Once the teacher knows the motivation for Yoga, they can tailor which yoga exercises will be best for you.
Give it a try at least
There are countless benefits to starting Yoga. It helps release stress, relieves pain, gives you confidence, and makes you feel happy about yourself.
However, the most significant benefits of Yoga aren’t tangible, and it is the peace of mind that comes with it. The key is to learn to pay attention keenly so you can fuse your body with mind and spirit. As you get deeper into Yoga, you will start to enjoy the mental and spiritual benefits.
References
Decker, Rachel, and NP. “Can I Do Yoga If I Have Osteoporosis?” Intermountainhealthcare.org, intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/topics/live-well/2017/11/can-i-do-yoga-if-i-have-osteoporosis/.
Publishing, Harvard Health. “The Safe Way to Do Yoga for Back Pain.” Harvard Health, 11 Apr. 2021, www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-safe-way-to-do-yoga-for-back-pain.
Sharma, Anup et al. “A Breathing-Based Meditation Intervention for Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Following Inadequate Response to Antidepressants: A Randomized Pilot Study.” The Journal of clinical psychiatry vol. 78,1 (2017): e59-e63. doi:10.4088/JCP.16m10819
García-Sesnich, Jocelyn N et al. “Longitudinal and Immediate Effect of Kundalini Yoga on Salivary Levels of Cortisol and Activity of Alpha-Amylase and Its Effect on Perceived Stress.” International Journal of yoga vol. 10,2 (2017): 73-80. doi:10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_45_16
Luu, K., Hall, P.A. Examining the Acute Effects of Hatha Yoga and Mindfulness Meditation on Executive Function and Mood. Mindfulness 8, 873–880 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0661-2
Woodyard, Catherine. “Exploring the therapeutic effects of yoga and its ability to increase quality of life.” International Journal of yoga vol. 4,2 (2011): 49-54. doi:10.4103/0973-6131.85485