International Yoga Day and the Benefits of Practice

As the International day of yoga approaches us, it is time to reflect on your personal practice and self care.  As the sun begins to shine, and the summer season begins, there will be two free yoga classes this month. When you contemplate why it is that people practice yoga, you may have to practice it yourself to truly know. In the mean time, here are some of the basic benefits of practicing yoga:

1. Being more aware of deep breathing, and using this to benefit your ability to calm your mind and body.
2. Injury prevention as movement and stretching are both beneficial to building support muscles as well as keeping mobility and flexibility.
3. Flexibility in your body and your mind.
4. The ability to push through something, even when it is difficult.
5. Noticing that practice does not make perfect. Practice makes progress.
6. Being aware and accepting who you are, and that all bodies are different.
7. Balance is important in life and in the body. Many accidents, and even death, can occur late in life due to lack of balance.
8. Hatha yoga has been shown to increase bone density which also helps with balance, and overall health.
9. Learning coping mechanisms for anxiety and depression.
10. Healing. Yoga has been used for healing emotional and physical pain.

As this list in no way covers all of the benefits of yoga. It is a great place to start. Only by beginning your own yoga practice, will you truly see and feel the effects of this ancient way to move, and to connect mind, body, and breath. As a yoga instructor, I enjoy the benefits of yoga in my own life, but nothing is more fulfilling than seeing the benefits in others.

“A photographer gets people to pose for him. A yoga instructor gets people to pose for themselves.” (Terri Guillemets)

Happy International Yoga Day from me to you.