3 Irresistible Benefits of Yoga
Can you remember a time when you were so busy, physically running around, jumping from one activity to another, juggling people, things and activities? Perhaps in December with all the end of year things to do, festive season preparation and parties?!
Can you now also remember a time when you were so busy with your thoughts? Perhaps you were unable to fall asleep or stay asleep, unable to concentrate, irritable or anxious with the feeling of being overwhelmed, un-supported, helpless, or out of control?Sounding familiar??Like most of us, this physical mental and emotional “busyness” arises most days. We find it hard to slow down in this fast-paced world and our technology – phones, computers, social media, apps etc. facilitate that. (working on a new blog for you coming out soon:
The simple life: 4 ways to reduce our reliance on technology).
So there are plenty of good reasons to slow down and reconnect with ourselves but how do we do it?
Well, practising yoga is now becoming one of the most popular ways to do just that, with more Australians, Americans & Brits taking up Yoga than ever before!
Three benefits of Yoga:
1. Yoga helps with a busy life to reduce stress and anxiety, giving us a sense of calm. By taking the time to attend a class, we are already making a commitment to step out of what is creating mental stress & physical tension and reconnect with ourselves.Here in Australia, yoga is the fastest-growing sport or fitness activity, and two million Australians are seeing that first hand. A large majority of participants are women, which is unsurprising given that they are more likely to suffer from the sorts of conditions they purport to help alleviate, such as mental health concerns including stress, anxiety and depression, and physical ailments including arthritis, back pain, and muscular aches.At my Yoga clasess you can step into a relaxing , nurturing environment, with like-minded souls also wanting to make changes in their life. You can let go of your cares (perhaps desire for control you had that day) as you focus on the Teacher and her guidance. The combination of poses, breathing and relaxation encourage the body to relax, to move into the parasympathetic nervous system, where we feel safe, secure and calm. With this sense of calm, we can clear the debris of the day away with more clarity as we gain perspective on what’s important in our lives. It may take a few yoga classes to realise the full benefit though!
2. Yoga helps us live more purposefully. If we can step out of our busy cycle of doing and thinking rather than being in the moment, we can start to encourage relaxation in ourselves. The nervous system is soothed, creating more clarity around our choices and actions and this fresh perspective centers us, enabling us to see the reality of a situation with a more balanced, less reactive approach. This does take some regular practice and a regular meditation practice is also a great tool for building this one-pointed focus. Imagine a day or just a situation where you could respond in alignment with your core values.For me it’s compassion, love and respect. What are yours?When we respond to situations more authentically, being who we truly are, it causes less impact upon others. Our emotional footprint on the world is only positive, rather than causing needless suffering to others by reactive unkind words and actions.
3. Yoga helps us lose weight and tone up. Especially pertinent for many of us at this time of year after a festive season of over-indulgence! Yoga poses help massage and activate various systems and organs within the body and combined with the breath, they can have a powerful impact from the inside out.A 2016 study in America revealed the top five reasons for starting yoga are: flexibility, stress relief, general fitness improving overall health, and physical fitness. In fact this study showed that Yoga is for everyone,– gaining popularity with men (approximately 10 million) and people aged over 50 years.
How yoga has helped me personally:
I didn’t start practicing Yoga to lose weight, (you can read more about my Journey here) it was just a by-product of wanting to become more my true self, more focused, disciplined and mindful of what I ate and did.
Although it wasn’t my intention, with practice my shape changed and my weight dropped – a great bonus!
Yoga helped me become more disciplined, as I began to leave my ego at home and go to class with an open heart and mind and great respect for my teacher.
Living a more routine and “Right Life” I was more easily able to set and achieve goals.
I found that my entire attitude towards myself, my food, my activities changed for the positive because of yoga. At a deeper level, I became more conscious and respectful of how I was using my mind, my body and the impact upon my spirit.
My way of looking at the world also changed, I felt like I was being re-modelled, or perhaps just becoming the authentic human being I was meant to be.
Are you one of the 80 million people who are likely to try yoga over the next year?If you’re local to Sale, you can join my classes in person – the new term starts this coming week, 1st February.If you’re from far and wide, you can soon join me online. My new Yoga, Meditation & Relaxation site is bubbling away and getting some great feedback. I’m planning to officially launch the site very soon, so stay tuned!BeBliss, Gabrielle xxPS: Need some inspiration to set some goals for 2017? See my 7 Tips to make your new years resolution stickIf you need some 1:1 support to get started email me for a free 30 minute Coaching Discovery session.
JANUARY 29, 2017