I’m sure you’ve heard all the buzz about yoga in recent years. Personally, I’m passionate about yoga because it was a tremendous help to me in surviving a traumatic time in my life.
I discovered that yoga is the perfect way to prepare myself for prayer and meditation, helping me to be more calm and focused. I found it so useful that I later trained to become a yoga instructor, for my own personal growth, as well as preparation for supporting other women in trauma. Almost every person that I’ve taught has experienced an improvement in their mental state.
Although the practice of yoga has been around for thousands of years, it wasn’t until the late 1800s and early 1900s that yoga masters began to bring the teachings to the western part of the world. In more recent years, it’s become more mainstream and popular everywhere.
Yoga literally means “union”, which refers to the connection of your body, mind and spirit. Yoga, therefore, is the practice of centering and uniting the body, mind and spirit through the use of poses (asanas) and breathing techniques. What we commonly refer to as yoga in the West is technically called Hatha Yoga, which focuses primarily on the physical aspect of yoga (the asanas).
Many consider yoga another form of exercise, but, while it has all the benefits of exercise, it offers so much more. Unlike many types of exercise, yoga is not about pushing yourself or following the “pain is gain” mentality. Yoga is about listening to your body, being kind and gentle to yourself.
As I mentioned in the Meditation 101 series, yoga is a form of meditation, with all its benefits, when carried out with focused intention. Yoga can be used to calm the mind, strengthen the body and improve overall health.
Yoga is not just for the young and fit either. It can be adapted for anyone. I’ve taught chair yoga to people with limited physical capacity – and even to those who are wheelchair bound – with great results. No matter what your personal situation, there is a practice just right for you that you could find immensely enjoyable and rewarding.
Some people are concerned that practicing yoga would be contradictory or even detrimental to their religious beliefs. Yoga, however, is not a religion. It’s a philosophy of self discovery and universal truths that can be incorporated into any belief system. I use my yoga practice as an extension of my faith and a time for inner reflection and communion with my God.
So, maybe you are still wondering, “Why do I need yoga in my life?”. Let me share some of the many ways yoga can be beneficial for you:
- Yoga improves balance, flexibility, strength and coordination.
- Yoga strengthens the immune system.
- Yoga improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system, increases blood vessel flexibility and reduces the risk of heart disease.
- Yoga aids the digestive system and can help relieve IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
- Yoga helps the body to get rid of waste and toxins.
- Yoga improves the functioning of both the respiratory and nervous systems.
- Yoga strengthens and supports the bones and joints, and can help to ward off osteoporosis and relieve arthritis pain.
- Yoga relieves stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Yoga can be helpful in relieving headaches.
- Yoga increases energy, improves your mood and calms your mind.
As you can see, yoga can be some strong medicine. But it’s not a quick fix. The best results will come from a consistent, steady practice. This doesn’t mean you have to spend hours a week practicing yoga. In fact, if you’re willing to take just 10 to 15 minutes out of your day to spend on the mat, you will reap great rewards.
As with any healthy habit that takes effort, you will most likely be faced with obstacles when you attempt to develop a yoga practice. Most of us have at least a little bit of a self-defeating side that fights against doing things that are good for us.
You may have physical or mental issues that make it difficult to do yoga. You may doubt your ability and make excuses for procrastinating. You may have negative or false ideas about yoga. It would probably be helpful to address each of these issues honestly.
Having struggled with all of these obstacles myself, my best advice is to take it one day, one step at a time. Start small and praise yourself for what you can do rather than beating yourself up for what you can’t do. Just hang in there and move forward at your own pace.
There are thousands of instructional videos and classes out there to guide you in your yoga practice, so I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel. What I’d like to offer on my videos are short, manageable practices that you can fit into your busy life without feeling overwhelmed. I’ll make suggestions for modifications that allow for most physical conditions, including a chair yoga practice. It’s important that you listen to your body and adjust the poses according to your needs and limitations.
Once you become more comfortable with yoga, you may find that you want to learn more and take a class or find some You-Tube videos that you like. That’s great, but if you choose to stick with my short practices, that’s great too.
Remember, yoga is not about pushing yourself or feeling guilty. So, if 10 minutes a day of yoga is what you can do, then be super proud of yourself! I’m proud of you! Your effort is more than good enough!
Most of all, I want you to enjoy your time on the mat. Think of it as a time to take a break from the stress of your life to spend time loving and nurturing yourself. No self criticism, no judgment, no right or wrong – just love. And soon you might even look forward to it as your favorite time of the day.
Go ahead and check out my yoga videos now, if you’d like. You might want to just watch them first and get the idea. If your mobility is extremely limited, try the Chair Yoga. Or start by learning how to do a Sun Salute, which makes a great practice in itself. Maybe you’d like to try the Bedtime Yoga to wind down from your day. Feel free to explore and experiment to find what appeals to you.
Happy yoga-ing!
With My Heart,
