While I realize adding another thing to our list of things to get done may not appeal to all, I wanted to share about my experiences with adding yoga to my schedule 2-3 times a week, because it has changed so much about my health and energy, and to encourage you to try this practice and see for yourself some of the changes that may come about!!
Below are some of the reasons that I started (and am continuing) down my path to being a Yogi and how it can potentially help you too!
- Better Flexibility. In the 9 months I have been doing yoga, I’m finally seeing some real changes to my flexibility. I can stretch farther and deeper than I could last year at this time, which is something that I have always wanted to work on. Good flexibility has so many positive effects in our lives such as much fewer aches and pains in our knees, back and other parts of our body.
- Improved respiration = more energy. The entire yoga class is focused around calm, slow breathing. This has been helpful to me in so many ways: deeper breath brings more calm to my brain and help me to de-stress, it brings more oxygen and therefore energy to my body, and it gets me through the tough poses that I would struggle through if not for the concentration on the breathing. The deep breathing also helps me focus on the class and keeps my attention in the here and now, rather than on the past or future.
- Better balance. Yoga has so much to do with working on your balance, and I can see a marked difference in my balance since starting this practice. Poor balance can lead to back and knee pain and of course more chance of falls and injury. Postures like tree pose can help us feel stronger and less wobbly both in class and in the real world.
- Better Sleep. I mean, I’ve always slept pretty well, but going to sleep after doing yoga during the day has been really next level. I’m not sure if it is because of the reduced stress or increased oxygenation (see #2) but I’ll take it!
- Increased strength. I can’t believe the jump in my capacity for holding poses like plank, side plank, or downward facing dog. I just know that with this increase in strength is also coming great side benefits like weight loss, changes in muscle tone, and mobility.
- Better posture. The more you practice yoga, the more you can prevent cartilage and joint breakdown. This will help with better posture, which in turn can help prevent back, neck, and other muscle or joint pain. I’ve also read that yoga protects your spine, because spinal disks crave movement and that this is the way that the spine gets its nutrients.
- Detoxification. I have learned that when you stretch and contact muscles and move organs around, you can increase the drainage of lymph, a fluid rich in immune cells. What does this mean? Better immunity and ability to fight infection, and better disposal of toxic waste in the body.
If you are local and ever want to join me for a free yoga class, my gym allows for guests and I would love to participate with you.
Tell me, what are your favorite ways to increase your energy levels?
