Why You Should Consider Practicing Yoga
- Jun 5, 2022
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 20
Starting a yoga practice can seem intimidating, but it's a great way to improve both your physical and mental health. Whether you're looking for a new exercise routine or a way to de-stress, we'll cover everything you need to know to get started.
What is yoga and what are the benefits of a regular practice?
Yoga is a physical exercise that combines stretching and poses with breathing techniques to improve flexibility, balance, and posture. A consistent practice can also help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and create a stronger mind-body connection.
Want to learn more about the numerous benefits of yoga and how to seamlessly integrate it into your daily life? Keep reading to discover how this ancient practice can transform your well-being.
Starting a yoga practice is the perfect way to start your morning or wind down at the end of the day. Yoga has been practiced all over the world for thousands of years. You do not need to be at peak physical fitness to start a practice. There are plenty of poses in every range of difficulty allowing you to slowly build your practice over time.
What Is Yoga?
Yoga is a mindfulness-based physical exercise that combines stretches and poses with breathing techniques. The practice of yoga started in India 5,000 years ago and has been practiced all over the world since.
If you're wondering why you should consider practicing yoga, it's because there are many different poses and yoga flows, which are a series of poses, that vary in difficulty and physical intensity. There are plenty of benefits to starting a yoga practice and you do not need to be an athlete to start. In fact, yoga is often recommended if you have limited mobility due to arthritis or osteoporosis.
How Does it Help the Body?
There are many ways that yoga can help the body as well as the mind. When practicing yoga, your brain and body are completely engaged as you focus on your breathing and posture. This allows you to slow down and stay grounded in the moment. Other physical benefits include:
Reduces stress
Improves mindfulness
Improves flexibility
Helps joints
Improves posture
Improves balance
Tones muscles
Lowers blood pressure
The Benefits of Yoga
A Great Way to Wind Down or Start Your Day
The versatility of yoga makes it an excellent practice. Since it does not require equipment other than a yoga mat and each session can be as short as ten minutes to as long as an hour, it makes it easy to fit a session into even a particularly busy schedule.
Yoga can be a way for you to stretch out stiff joints at the beginning of the day, take a quick break, or wind down after a stressful day. There are many different yoga flows that can help with everything from stress reduction to lower back pain.
A Physical Mindfulness Activity
You might dislike meditation, especially if you are not great at sitting still. Yoga works both as a form of physical exercise as well as a mindfulness exercise. If you tend to get restless, or you simply find meditation boring, you might enjoy how yoga combines movement with mindfulness and breathing.
A Gentle Form of Exercise
One thing that can keep you from exercising might be an injury or a health condition that limits what your body can safely do. Yoga does not require high-impact movement that might be rough on joints or muscles. It is also an easy exercise to start that does not require a high level of physical activity and can be a great start if you cannot move a lot but would like to remain active.
Yoga is sometimes recommended even before walking or dancing. There is also a lower risk of injury because you can control the amount of stress you put on your body. Over time, as you improve in your practice, you can become stronger and more flexible overall.
Creates a Mind and Body Connection
When struggling with your mental health, it is common to not feel connected to your body, mind, or both. Yoga allows your mind and body to make that connection. Through the practice, you are able to see how stress affects your body and how to release the tension you are holding.
That connection does become vital when you are learning how to detect stress or emotional changes. When you are able to feel in your body how your mind impacts it, you can have better control over your mental wellbeing, as well as keep yourself physically safe and healthy.
How to Incorporate Yoga Daily
Join a Class in Your Community
Yoga has become an increasingly popular form of exercise and many gyms and studios offer sessions. Joining a class allows you to interact with your community and meet other people with a shared interest in wellness. A class can also ensure that you commit to regular sessions, allowing you to grow your yoga practice.
Start a Daily Practice in Your Living Room
If you cannot afford a class or are not interested in trying the exercise around new people, it is easy to start a daily practice at home. All you need is a yoga mat and some easy poses to try out.
There are plenty of videos online that you can watch for free, allowing you to mirror the positions and follow their flow just like any regular yoga class. Practicing at home also allows you to choose when you practice, depending on your schedule.
Start With Short, Easy Exercises
When first beginning yoga, it is important to start simple. This can help you stay safe from any injuries or overstretching, as well as avoid any frustrations that might discourage you from continuing your practice. As you become stronger and more aware of your body, you can move to more complicated poses. For most people, the easiest poses to try are downward-facing dog and tree pose.
Listen to Your Body
If a yoga pose is painful, then it is important to get out of that pose safely to avoid injury. It is common to over-exert yourself if you are new to physical exercise. The best way to continue a daily practice is to avoid getting hurt. Listen to how these poses make you feel. If it feels good, hold the pose, if it does not, then it is better to switch to a pose that causes less stress on the body.
Frequently Asked Questions
• What is yoga?
Yoga is a mindfulness-based physical exercise that combines stretches and poses with breathing techniques. The practice originated in India 5,000 years ago and has been practiced all over the world since.
• Do you need to be an athlete to start practicing yoga?
No, you do not need to be an athlete to start practicing yoga. There are many poses in every range of difficulty, allowing you to build your practice over time. It's often recommended for those with limited mobility.
• What are some of the physical benefits of yoga?
Yoga offers many physical benefits, including reduced stress, improved flexibility, better balance, and toned muscles. It can also help improve posture, lower blood pressure, and strengthen joints.
• How can I incorporate yoga into my daily routine?
You can join a local yoga class or start a practice at home with a yoga mat and free online videos. Starting with short, easy exercises and listening to your body is a great way to begin.
• Is there a high risk of injury with yoga?
No, there is a lower risk of injury with yoga because you can control the amount of stress you put on your body. It is important to listen to your body and avoid any poses that cause pain.
You can begin or deepen your yoga practice with the help of Chateau Health and Wellness. Our dedicated team is here to support you on your journey toward improved physical and mental well-being. We offer a variety of programs tailored to your unique needs, ensuring you receive the guidance and care you deserve. When you're ready to take the next step, we're here to help. Contact us today at (435) 222-5225 to discover how we can help you achieve a healthier and more balanced life.
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About The Author
Ben Pearson, LCSW - Clinical Director
With 19 years of experience, Ben Pearson specializes in adolescent and family therapy, de-escalation, and high-risk interventions. As a former Clinical Director of an intensive outpatient program, he played a key role in clinical interventions and group therapy. With 15+ years in wilderness treatment and over a decade as a clinician, Ben has helped countless individuals and families navigate mental health and recovery challenges.
