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July 27, 2016 Have you ever wanted to keep yourself fit? You could want to do something about it. Well, for me I have a good story. Some time ago a friend asked me what I do to keep fit. I said yoga and she gave me this skeptic look. “I don’t see how you can credit this well-toned body to deep breathing and chant in cross-legged positions.” Because I am a sport, I went ahead to explain and demonstrate ‘warrior 2’, headstands and chair pose. That didn’t convince her and so I invited her to a class. Well, let’s just say she won’t be coming taunting me about my ‘chanting’ anytime soon.
Yoga is a great low-impact way of keeping fit, both physically and spiritually. Here are some of its benefits:
1. Flexibility:
Yoga practice is basically focused around stretching the body. You are taken through episodes of stretches in positions that you had never imagined your body taking. At first, your muscles are all knotted and inflexible and you can swear that your body would never be capable of doing some twists, but in due time, you will ace the like a champ!
2. Muscle development:
We usually underestimate our own body weight until we have to do such exercises as handstands. Only then do we realize how heavy our bodies are. Repeated sessions of yoga help one develop strength on their arms and overall body.
3. Good for the heart and the muscles:
Within the first five minutes of a session, the heart is usually almost popping out. All this happens passively. The fluid repeated asana help in getting the waking the heart and giving you a proper cardio. Also, as one keeps with the practice, the muscles loosen up, hence reducing the risk of injury. It’s actually a great way of healing post-workout injuries that are gotten from high impact workouts.
4. Inner peace:
Meditation takes you to an inner part of you that you don’t meet every day. You get in touch with what’s hidden in your conscience. It is a great way to escape from the noise in our surroundings and to just breathe in good intentions.
5. Breathe in; breathe out:
We are used to breathing in haste, without fully filling our lungs. Our exhales are neither here nor there either. In a yoga class, one of the first things you learn is breathing properly, which means taking a deep breath and exhaling it all. This has been found to have a calming effect in people. The mind becomes clearer.
The benefits of yoga are inexhaustible. One can never fully expound them all. You get to not only lose weight and improve your posture but also become more mindful of your surroundings. It gives you a new way to appreciate the air around you with the deep breathing techniques. You become more aware of your intentions and your surroundings. Start your day with a sun salutation! Namaste.
