Maybe it’s just me, but I doubt it. I started doing yoga, because I thought maybe it would be kind of cool to strengthen my core, get flexible, and it was really popular. So, I went first out of curiosity, I wanted to know why it was so popular. I knew it had something to do with mind, body, spirit – but I never got to understand the full picture of yoga, what it means, and what it could provide.
Not that I haven’t had good instructors, and great classes, but none of them start off with a history lesson, and almost all of them move with quick succession from one pose into the next trying to be gentle enough for the newcomers but aggressive enough for the seasoned goers.
After years of going to yoga classes, I had gotten a good sense of things but it had still never been fully explained to me. So, I looked it up. I did my own research and started practicing more and more on my own.
Let’s take a quick moment to dive into the fundamentals.
The word ‘Yoga’ means to unite or connect. So, though most yoga involves movement, it doesn’t necessarily have to. Yoga Nidra for example, is to help you relax or sleep. You rest, completely still and become fully mindful and aware of yourself and your body. You connect with yourself, you unite your mind, your body, and your spirit and work towards creating balance in your daily life.
We unite our body, our mind, and our spirit together in the spirit of harmonious connection, a union of individual and universal consciousness. Nature joining forces and dancing together within our human form. When practiced daily or at least often, this habit can be truly transformational for your entire life.
By practicing focus, and setting an intention for our mind, our body, and our spirit, we do this not only just for the time we spend in the yoga practice, but for the rest of our day.
Peacefully we often begin our practice with our eyes closed and an inward dive into our bodies. Focusing on our breath, on our balance, on our sense of self. We breathe in joy, love and light, and breathe out frustration, fear, and stress. It’s a truly beautiful way to feel connected to yourself and the world around you.
There are Plenty of Other Benefits:
- Increased Flexibility
- Relief from Back Pain
- Digestion Support
- Increased Muscle Strength and Tone
- Improved Breathing & Respiration
- Weight Loss
- Protection from Injuries
- A Higher Metabolism
- Mental Clarity and Focus
- Increased Body Awareness
- Relief for Chronic Stress & Anxiety
All in all, it took me longer than I wish it had to fully understand and appreciate yoga for all of its benefits and the resilience it’s given me in multiple areas of my life. Just like anything else, it took time for me to understand and fully appreciate its true purpose. It all comes down to awareness. Becoming conscious beings takes more time and care than we want to admit. That’s okay.
Remember to give yourself some grace. Yoga does. It takes you in just as you are and says – “You are enough. You are worthy. You are whole.”
We are beings filled with love and light that is just waiting to be connected to, cared for and expressed fully. For me, just like mindful journaling, meditation, and healthy eating, yoga is a daily practice that I would recommend to anyone at any age.
Reach out if you would like to take a one on one yoga class with me to see how easy it can be to start and hone your practice in a way that is specifically tailored to your personal needs.
