Yoga is a holistic wellness practice that has been scientifically proven to improve physical and mental health. Most people think of yoga as classes, postures, stretching, etc. But the word ‘yoga’ describes a way of life, a specific path to eliminate suffering. The postures of yoga (asana in Sanskrit) are one of the ‘steps’ on the journey, known as the Eight Limb Path of Yoga. The path also includes things like moral conduct, a relationship with life force energy, and meditation. A regular yoga practice builds strength in the muscles, improves flexibility, and increases mobility in the joints. Yoga can prevent, and even reverse, many physical ailments and diseases. It has also been shown to reduce anxiety and related symptoms. Yoga promotes mindfulness, loving kindness, compassion, and a connection with the Divine, or our personal interpretation of our Source.
A common misconception for people who have never tried yoga is that it is not really exercise. Although it is true that there are styles of yoga that are more about stretching and relaxation, there are plenty of styles that are more physically involved. A class that involves standing and balancing poses, and flows from one pose to the next, will be a major physical workout. Styles like yin and restorative yoga will be less physical, while styles like vinyasa and hatha yoga will involve more movement and difficult holds. Yoga provides a perfect combination of strength training and stretching that leaves your muscles fluid, stretchy, and healthy. A lot of poses involve holding up your own weight, and that is not an easy task to do. Yoga uses the built-in weights of our body to build muscle strength while simultaneously stretching them to increase flexibility and range of motion. In yoga you will utilize nearly every muscle group. Ask anyone about their first class; they’ll likely tell you it was harder than they thought!
