There are studies all over the world that explore and celebrate the benefits of yoga and although I know this to be true, I was always a little sceptical, I tended to explain away my weight loss as a combination of diet and running as well as yoga. However, I have to admit to not only being hooked but being a full 100% believer. Yoga has moved emotional blockers in the body that allowed my body to find a healthier state. Weight loss is a bonus, all the other benefits far outweigh a smaller waist and a stronger plank. The personal benefits I have felt in myself as well as others are astounding.
Find the space within
I’m not sure where it starts, it might be that the body wakes up when you give it time and space to move. It might be that conscious breathing expands every nook and cranny in the body and allows for a lightness to take you over. Wherever it starts for you it doesn't matter, just know that it grows, endlessly. Every time I roll out my mat my mind knows, she quiets in sweet anticipation of her time to rest, she knows that this is her gift, her peace. She doesn't always stay quiet for long, but she appreciates the effort, the devotion and the routine of it all.
Respect the journey
Wherever you are on your wellness / getting to know yourself journey (as I assume that is why you are here) know that it is a journey and some days the hill will be harder to climb than others. Some days the poses or the hip openers will be beyond you. The line to self-understanding is not linear and knowing that allows you to be patient with your body as she unfurls from years of not having the space that she deserted.
Yoga is so much more than exercise
I have been to many studios over the years and each one has its own personality, some good some not-so-good. Find one that offers you a judgment-free community. The 45-minute cardio-based fitness studios are incredible for the strength-building section of your journey but please know there is more, much much more. Any studio that ignores the importance of Savasana will limit your journey at some point. At that point find a more traditional studio. I say this with love, my first commitment to a studio was too much community and not enough sweating, now I am back at the original and I know the names of nearly all my fellow students. You’ll need different things along your journey, so look out for this as you needs change.
It’s more than poses
When you practice Yoga it is about the positions, but the moving between each pose and the engagement of the body in each pose is just as crucial. The incredible poses you might see on Instagram are impressive but know that the benefits can be felt in simpler Sun Sal A’s. Yoga is a practice of moving the energy around - this comes in all forms. The purpose of getting into poses like a Scorpion is not about how it looks or the strength of the core its purpose is the same as that of a plank, a crow or a warrior 3 - it's about the energy. After my recent YTT that is the question I get asked - can you do an [fill in the blank] pose? The question tells me more about that person knowledge of Yoga rather than my abilities. As yoga isn't about abilities it's about your connection with yourself. Yogi’s who can get in incredible poses can only do so with a deep understanding of themselves, they know how to engage their bodies and they understand the safe ways to get in and out of such poses. These poses should be admired but not because of how they look more for the show of devotion that they demonstrate.
I appreciate that some people do get into yoga for the strength that it brings, and that is ok, but please know there is more beyond this point - so much more.
Breathe in the possibilities
Yoga will teach you how to control and consciously breathe, you can then use it to be better at all other endeavours beyond exercise. Breath allows you to not only go deeper in your yoga practice but to explore the full capabilities of your body, to self regulate and to learn how the mind body connection begins with a simple inhale.Breath is a big topic and its everywhere at the moment, once you learn how breathing is linked to how you feel, what controls it can offer it becomes something you cannot unsee. Once you conquer the breath you can dip into Meditation, Pranayama and all the benefits that come with a daily practice of slowing breath and mind.
Pop back again to read more about these topics.
