My Yoga Journe
This is because when I first unrolled my yoga mat, I was honest, and I only had one goal to touch my toes. I believed that yoga was only the fancy way of stretching, an hour of silent time to practice my flex. My knowledge of what I was on the verge of was minimal and little did I realize that what I was venturing out into was going to transform not only my body, but also my whole perception of life.
What began as a physical experiment then, quickly transformed itself into an effective weapon in the pursuit of mental clarity, emotional strength and deep self-realization. This is not merely my tale but it is a testimony to the many-sided effectiveness of a regular yoga practice. This article will give an account of my personal experience with yoga, the unexpected science that I have learned about it, and why this ancient practice has turned into an indispensable part of my life in the present.
My Introductory Yoga Experience: So much More Than the Poses
I recall how I entered my first yoga session confused as well as scared. There was no noise in the room, the lights were low and everyone appeared to know what they were doing. I struggled with the Sun Salutations, my Down Dog was more of an exhausted puppy and I did more of looking at the neighbors than at my breath. The teacher continued to use Sanskrit terms such as asana and pranayama, which were very beautiful but they did not make sense to me at that moment.
Although I experienced some level of awkwardness at the beginning, there was still something that made me come back. It was not the dawning of a new day, an eye-opener. Instead, it was a subtle shift. After a couple of weeks, I learned that I was able to reach my toes without the need to bend my knees. More to the point, I began to not only love that hour on the mat and make it my sacred time when I did not have my phone and thought about my to-do list. I was simply there, my body and my breathing. This was what I learnt first: yoga has so much more than the physical postures. The poses are merely the entering point; the business occurs inside.
The Physical Change: What the Science Told Me.
The physical benefits became unquestionable as I became more and more committed to my yoga practice. But as a naturally curious individual I needed to know the why. Did everything I feel just go in my head, or did science support how I felt? I started to research it and I was shocked at what I discovered, which was exactly the reflection of my experience.
Flexibility and Strength: The Clear Victory.
This is what most people and I would attribute to yoga. A seminal study in the International Journal of Yoga tracked a group of adults who used Hatha yoga in only eight weeks. The outcome was a shocking 35 per cent increase in their total flexibility. That is why my hamstring finally ceased to complain! What surprised me more though is the strength I attained. The poses such as Plank, Chair and Warrior II developed a functional, lean body strength that I never achieved during my occasional gym visits. My back was hard and my position was much better.
Joint / Back Health: A Personal Victory.
I also would occasionally experience lower back pain as a result of sitting at a desk. And after some months of regular yoga, it was all but gone. I also realized that yoga progressively moves the spine and makes your supporting muscles firmer, forming a kind of corset around the back. It also enhances lubrication in the joints which is important in long term mobility. For me, this was a game-changer. I was not merely exercising, I was spending on a painless future.
The Heart of the Matter: Cardiovascular Advantages.
It also surprised me to find that a less vigorous yoga routine may be on par with some more vigorous cardio exercises in a few ways. Studies show that yoga is useful in reducing blood pressure, reducing heart rate and improving lipid profiles. This is partly because yoga activates the parasympathetic nervous system- the rest and digest mode which opposes the stress caused fight or flight mode that destroys our cardiovascular system. My resting heart rate also lowered and I experienced a new sense of calmness even on stressful days.
The Mind and Heart Game-Changer.
Although the physical transformations were amazing, my mind has been affected the most with the yoga experience. It is here that I actually came to discover that yoga is a comprehensive well being system.
Taming the Anxiety Beast
I was never that far of a worrier. I am inclined to think of what-ifs, particularly at 3 AM. The practice of yoga opened my eyes to the strength of the breath. Such methods as ujjayi (victorious breath) and mere breath awareness became my support.
When I saw myself developing some anxiety, I would take a couple of minutes to concentrate only on my inhales and exhales. Neuroscience has demonstrated that the emotional centers of the brain can be directly manipulated by controlled breathing, to relax the amygdala. In my case, it seemed to me that I had found a back door to panic. My yoga mat was my shelter where I could literally breathe through the mess.
Working the Mind: Better than Cup of Coffee?
I also realized that I was more concentration at work. I was able to think more and my mind was not so disorganized. This isn’t a coincidence. MRI scans have also revealed that a regular yoga practice has the capacity of increasing prefrontal cortex volume, the part of the brain that makes decisions, focuses on other things and regulates self-awareness as well. The concentration I exercised on the mat by concentrating on a single pose, one breath at a time was training my brain to become more present and focused off the mat. It was a workout to my concentration power.
Sleep: The Ultimate Reward
I had an inconsistent sleep schedule prior to yoga. At this point, I sleep more easily and my sleep is more profound. Physical activity, less stress, and a relaxing nervous system combine to make the most ideal circumstances to induce sleep. Harvard Medical School carried out a study which established that significant improvement in sleep quality was achieved by people having insomnia when they practiced yoga daily. I can testify of this myself. My sleep ritual has been reduced to a short and gentle yoga practice before going to sleep.
My Yoga, My Way: Which Style of Yoga is Right?
The misunderstanding that struck me as one of the largest ones was that yoga was a single thing. I soon got to know that it is a huge universe, and there are other styles, each of them having a distinct focus. It was important that I managed to find the right one to keep me interested.
Vinyasa Flow: The one I adopted was this. It is dynamic, the connection between movement and breath is flowing. It is like dancing and best to generate heat and energy.
Hatha Yoga: This is a good place to begin. Hatha practices are slower in nature and poses are held in place during a few inhalations to ensure proper positioning. It forms the basis of the majority of modern yoga.
Yin Yoga: This was a challenge to me, but a welcome challenge. Yin consists of passive floor poses, which last a few minutes, to work on the deep connective tissues. It is a very meditative and calming exercise and it perfectly augments the more vigorous styles.
Restorative Yoga: The most complete relaxation. It is a style of complete submission by supporting the body completely with props such as blankets and bolsters. It is ideal on those day when you need to relax and re-energize.
The fun includes experimentation with styles and teachers. There is no need to fear shopping until you get a class that feels like it was tailor made.
Making Yoga Part of my Dailies.
You do not have to undertake a 90-minute course to enjoy the fruits. It is the real magic of yoga when it is transferred off the mat into your daily life. Here’s how I’ve integrated it:
The 5-Minute Morning: I would like to begin the majority of my days with only five minutes of mindful stretching and breathing. It creates a relaxed, purposeful atmosphere of the day to come.
Desk Yoga: When I have some stiffness in my sitting, I will perform some basic seated twists or neck rolls. It is a fast refresher of the body and mind.
Mindful Moments: The most significant one has been the use of mindfulness in everyday practices. I am trying to be completely present whether I am washing dishes or taking walks with the dog, the same way I am on my mat.
The Bottom Line: Why I Am Still Practicing.
I started learning yoga as a simple wish to be more flexible, and it brought me much more. It helped me to breathe through pain, physical and emotional. It demonstrated to me that being strong does not necessarily mean being muscular, but also resilient and patient. It provided me with the means to overcome stress and get better sleep, to relate to a more relaxed and also more focused side of myself.
When you think about the process of beginning a yoga practice, I can recommend only one thing: to begin. There is no need to be perfect or bend. Appear, breath and treat your body beautiful. A thousand mile starts with one step, or as in this instance, one pose. Your mat is there to tell you a story of its own.