September is National Yoga Month! Before it slips away completely, I wanted to share with you six great reasons why you should try yoga.
Yoga reduces stress
Yoga is a fabulous way to reduce stress. It actively promotes relaxation through breathing techniques, meditation, and controlled physical movements that release tension throughout the body. Some studies have shown that yoga reduces the production of cortisol, which has an ‘anti-stress’ effect on the body. This can also bring some relief to depression.
The more you practice yoga, the more you come to crave the relaxing and restorative effect it has on your body. Indeed, there have been times when I’m compelled to find time on my yoga mat to escape and recharge.
Yoga increases flexibility
You don’t need to be flexible to do yoga, you do yoga to become flexible. Yoga sequences and poses move your body through its full range of motion. In doing so, you stretch your muscles and with regular practice, increases your flexibility. How flexible you become is dependent on a number of factors, like age, frequency of practice, consistency, and to some degree, genetics.
Overall flexibility is important for a variety of reasons. It reduces the risk of injury, improves mobility and posture, and improves muscle coordination. As you age, all of these elements are key in sustaining physical movement and independence.
It makes you appreciate your body
Yoga is all about turning your thoughts inward, tuning into your body. You acknowledge how it feels, how it moves, how it’s grounded and connected to the earth. Yoga is an individual experience, and a yogis’ practice is very personal.
Although you may be in a room full of other practitioners, your yoga practice is yours. There is no competition. Your body and the way it moves is uniquely you, and yoga promotes that appreciation, harmony, and acceptance.
When yoga becomes part of your regular routine, you appreciate how well your body moves, and learn to accept your natural limitations.
A perfect passive exercise
If running, weight training, or some other form of intense exercise is your jam, as a passive exercise, yoga is a perfect complement for your rest days.
A yoga practice will move your body through its full range of motion, lengthening and stretching muscles that become tight as a result of more vigorous exercise. It also promotes strength and balance, both of which can improve performance in your chosen fitness activity and overall functional movement. Someone who has a good range of motion and better balance can more easily recover from a stumble which can turn into a bad fall.
You don’t need fancy equipment
Literally, all you need is a mat. There are dozens out there, in various materials, thicknesses, lengths, and widths. Don’t overthink this and don’t go crazy. I didn’t know any of this at all when I bought my first mat made from natural tree rubber. At 7lbs, it weighs more in comparison to most yoga mats which are made of PVC or TPE material and weigh just a few pounds. Its 71” length is longer than most mats, which are typically 68”, and the 4mm thickness is just cushy enough.
Don’t get me wrong; I do like PVC and TPE mats too. They both clean up well and in fact, the PVC mat has a little more spring and cushiness. I have a PVC mat that I keep rolled up in the corner of my office and I use one when I practice outside. The only downside of those is that they tear easily and both of mine have flaked off pieces at the top and bottom where my feet pivot in different poses.
You can practice anywhere
I love the shared energy of a yoga class and the guidance of a good instructor. But when class schedules don’t align with mine, or when I’m compelled to spend time on my mat, I practice on my own.
With the plethora of free yoga videos on YouTube, or paid programs via your smartphone, all you really need is a space the size of your yoga mat and you practice yoga anywhere. In the early spring and fall, when the weather is cool and crisp and there is a slight breeze, I love rolling out my mat and practicing yoga on my deck.
Final thoughts
I never thought I’d have the patience for yoga. All that silence and heavy breathing weren’t for me, I thought. Plus, it seems my mind never shuts off. How was this going to work for me?
Turns out yoga has had a transformative effect on my life. I crave and appreciate the practice of yoga, not only for how it makes me feel physically, but how it makes me feel mentally, and spiritually.
As a person who still loves the sheer power of weight training, I appreciate the counterbalance of yoga and the flexibility and mindfulness that come with it.