Why yoga… should you give it a try?

You have nothing to lose and so much to gain. It’s wonderful to work out, lose weight, gain flexibility and tone up, but yoga is so much more than a great workout. It’s a work..in!

Yoga means union. It is a state of being in the present, focusing on the here and now. It’s a path to self discovery, fine-tuned awareness, and unification of the mind, body and soul. Yes, it is a series of postures that makes you sweat and burn calories, but more than that, it is a way to escape the restrictions of the mind and the limitations we put on ourselves.

“Yoga is not a religion. It is a science, science of well-being, science of youthfulness, science of integrating body, mind and soul” Amit Ray. The best thing about yoga is that it is for everyone. Most yoga studios and local gyms offer yoga classes that are open to all generations and fitness levels. It’s exciting to enter a room full of young teens, athletes, middle-aged moms, older gentlemen, and even fitness buffs and body builders. Everyone can feel accepted and included and, unlike other sports or classes that focus on niche clients, yoga tends to offer open arms. Whether you like to say “Om” or you can’t stand the word “yogi”; whether you are 92, 53, or even 12, yoga can help you.

One of the benefits of yoga is that you can choose a yoga style that’s tailored to your lifestyle, such as hatha yoga, hot yoga, power yoga, relaxation yoga, prenatal yoga, etc. So as far as the external body benefits go, some of them are: Improves your flexibility; Builds muscle strength; Perfects your posture; Improves your balance; Prevents cartilage and joint breakdown; Protects your spine; Releases tension in your limbs; Eases your pain and Betters your bone health. Here are some internal benefits: Increases your blood flow; Drains your lymph’s and boosts immunity; Ups your heart rate; Drops your blood pressure; Regulates your adrenal glands; Lowers blood sugar; Boosts your immune system functionality; Gives your lungs room to breathe; Prevents IBS and other digestive problems; Keeps allergies and viruses at bay and Supports your connective tissue. The physiological benefits are: Assisting with mental depression; Making you happy; Living a healthy lifestyle; Helps you focus; Maintains and relaxes your nervous system; Helps you sleep deeper; Gives you peace of mind; Increases your self-esteem; Gives you inner strength; Builds awareness for transformation; Encourages self care and Uses the placebo effect and to affect change.

There are many more benefits, however instead of me listing them… try it out and reap the benefits yourself. No sense in me saying, “I told you so”.