You Need to Start Practising Yoga - Here's Why

Since I started practising yoga a little over a year ago, I have seen the most incredible changes in my body and mindset. I only wish I had started sooner because after consistent practice, I stopped suffering from chronic back pain and I found my anxiety significantly reduced. Now, I incorporate it into my weekly fitness regimen. With a combination of strength, cardio and yoga, my body is stronger, and my productivity and overall happiness are at an all-time high.

If you practise consistently, you’ll find that the benefits of yoga will seep into most aspects of your life. So why not take this small but significant step to a better version of yourself? All you need is determination, consistency and of course, a yoga mat.

What is yoga?

When you think about yoga, you might imagine someone contorting their body into a pretzel. And while that can certainly be achieved, it’s much more than movement.

Humans aren’t just physical beings – we’re spiritual, and yoga combines these elements. It aims to find harmony and union of the body, mind, and spirit.

The physical component of yoga consists of different positions and movements (asanas) designed to improve your flexibility, balance, and strength. These postures are practised with controlled breathing (pranayama) which enhances your mind-body connection. The meditation component will also help you cultivate mental clarity, focus, and relaxation.

Did you know there are different types of yoga?

There are several different styles of yoga, each with its unique emphasis and approach, depending on what you want to get out of it. Some popular styles include:

Hatha: This style encompasses many physical styles of yoga. It often involves a series of basic postures and is suitable for beginners.
Vinyasa: Characterised by flowing movements and synchronised breath. It’s often more dynamic than Hatha yoga, and poses are linked together in a continuous sequence.
Ashtanga: A physically demanding style that follows a specific sequence of postures designed to build strength, flexibility, and endurance.
Iyengar: Focuses on precision and alignment in postures, using props such as belts, blocks, and blankets to assist practitioners.
Kundalini: A spiritual and dynamic form of yoga that incorporates movement, breathing techniques, meditation, and the chanting of mantras.
Bikram: Involves a series of 26 postures practised in a heated room, promoting flexibility and detoxification.
Restorative: Emphasises relaxation and restoration, involving gentle poses supported by props for extended periods to promote deep relaxation.

How will yoga benefit you?

Yoga offers many physical, mental, and emotional benefits, regardless of your skill level. Here are some key benefits that you’ll find with regular practice:

1. Improved flexibility

Aside from being able to bend in impressive positions, flexibility is so important to our health. Flexibility will help to prevent injury by correcting muscle imbalances by strengthening underactive muscles and stretching overly tight ones. This balanced approach ensures a safer and more resilient physical experience.

2. You’ll get stronger

Strength training is a key component to boosting your health which certain styles can achieve. As previously mentioned, Ashtanga and Vinyasas are great for building upper body and leg strength. Yoga tones muscles throughout your body, ensuring a balanced development. In contrast, weight training usually targets and flexes individual muscles or muscle groups in isolation

3. Connection with feminine energy

This one is lesser known as a benefit of yoga, but connecting with your feminine energy which is associated with intuition, empathy, nurturing, creativity, and interconnectedness.

4. Get better sleep

Approximately 50-70 million people struggle with sleep issues, and yoga has been proven to improve sleep quality. It facilitates deeper and better sleep because of the physical and mental exertion that comes from the stretching and relaxing of muscles.

5. Weight loss and mindful eating

According to a study done by Harvard, researchers found that yoga helps you become more aware of how your body feels, and this awareness carries over to mealtime. It allows you to savour each bite, paying attention to the taste, smell, and feel of the food in your mouth. Being mindful of what you’re eating and listening to your body’s cues of when you’re full will give you a healthier relationship with food.

There are countless more benefits of practising yoga, and you’ll find that after doing it consistently, your overall quality of life will dramatically improve. That’s what comes from learning to be in touch with yourself, so start now and reap the rewards!

Start here to find what style of yoga best suits you.