If you follow me on Instagram or keep up with my vlogs, you know that Yoga has been a huge part of my life for years now. I started it originally for a good workout, but now I love it for so many other benefits, too! Here they are!
1.) Increases Flexibility and Mobility
Yoga features plenty of deep stretches and functional movements that increase your flexibility and mobility, allowing you to move more freely and comfortably in your daily life. The body holds on to stress just as much as it does soreness, so it’s important to give your body a chance to ease from tension and pent up stress, so you can prevent injury and move more freely.
2.) Goal Setting
We call yoga a “practice” because that’s absolutely what it is! Too often, people go to a few classes and get discouraged, leaving feeling discouraged before their practice can even begin. Sticking through practicing for years has helped me feel goal-oriented, wanting to improve with every class. Having an attainable goal in mind makes yoga easy to find motivation for and keeps me excited for and committed to my fitness goals.
3.) Body Strength
It’s a common misconception that yoga is just lying on a mat and stretching. It actually uses important, key muscles to keep you strong and toned. Weightlifting is of course good for strength, but using your body weight through holding poses, and slow, controlled movement adds a new level of difficulty.
4.) Confidence
There’s nothing like improving in yoga and leaving a class feeling refreshed! We know that being confident and building a healthy relationship with your body comes with movement. But there’s a deeper confidence that yoga can bring. You feel empowered and capable, connecting to your body with an appreciation for all that it can do.
5.) Community
Some of my closest people in my life lately I’ve met through practicing! As you deepen your yoga practice, your mind body soul connection becomes stronger. I believe that when you are more in tune with yourself, you can connect well with others freely, without having any judgement. I find most people that I’ve met in yoga classes or even in the online yoga community, to be encouraging and very supportive. I’ve also felt very welcomed with open arms in all my classes. It is definitely a community that holds space for anyone that wants to be a part of it.
6.) Mindfulness + Meditation
So many types of workouts require high energy with hard circuits designed to make get your heart rate way up and burn as many calories as possible. Though you’ll definitely get a good sweat in yoga, there’s an emphasis on slowing down and controlling your movements and connecting them with your breath. Because of this, you’ll feel an increased connection to your body, and it’s easy to get into a meditative state. I always leave class feeling so refreshed because of this!!
These are just some of the amazing benefits of yoga! Do you practice yourself? Would love to hear why you love it, too!
xoxo Arika
By Arika Sato
