Yoga For Health And Wellness
My conception of yoga as health and wellness was oriented to the overly-bendy or the spiritually awakened. I would look at the images of the individuals bending into unrealistic positions and imagine, that it is not my case. I lived a life of work, stress and exhaustion. Wellness was something that came afterward. However, a couple of years back, I was on the verge of breaking down.
I always felt anxious, my back was aching because of bending over a desk and I could not feel like part of myself. I rolled out a borrowed mat out of desperate times. The same decision was the foundation of my health. This is what I have been taught on my way.
My Wellness Pursuit Was not the Expectancy.
My experience in my first yoga session was that I came in with a simple stretch. I was taught to listen to my body what I received. It was not about touching my toes, it was what I got to know on the way down. Yoga happened to meet me in my state, stiff, stressed and skeptical. It demonstrated to me that health and wellness are not places you can reach but things you need to develop. It was a real-life sustainable self-care system to me.
The Personal Advantages I Have Received.
These changes did not occur overnight but it was a fact. It gave me the rewards that I can experience in my everyday life because I was devoted to my yoga practice.
Physical Health: Not Flexibility Only.
Although I did feel more flexible, the tangible incentives reached much further.
I Developed Real, Practical Strength: Sustaining a plank (albeit on my knees at first) was the most effective way to strengthen my core than crunching could have been. Warrior II and Chair Pose are poses that strengthened the legs and the butt.
My Chronic Back Pain Gone: I was able to improve my core and work on my posture, which meant that the lower back pain was just gone. I was taught how to present myself in a different manner.
My Vitality Soared: I had to grab another coffee, but discovered that a 20-minute morning flow would keep me energized all day long.
Mental and Emotional Wellness: The Quiet Mind.
This was the most unexpected and useful gift of yoga to me.
Stress Became Manageable: Yoga taught me to breath. I am now able to go back to that steady breathing that I do on the mat whenever I sense anxiety creeping in. It is a handheld stress reliever that I carry around with me.
My Focus Sharpened: This habit of focusing on my breath and movement during one pose helped me to focus my brain on working better and in communication.
I Found a Kinder Inner Voice: Yoga is not about perfection. It’s about showing up. I was taught how to abandon the judgment I had, both of my body and my capacities, and substitute criticism with empathy.
What You Need to Know to Start Your Own Yoga Practice.
It does not require you to be flexible, skinny or strong to begin with. You just need to start. Here is the way I started, and how you can start.
Listen to Your Body
Your body is your best lecturer. If something hurts, back off. Good is sensation; the burning pain is the alert. It is a practice of feeling good, and not overworking yourself.
Find a Style That Fits You
Not all yoga is the same! I began by taking mellow classes of Hatha and restorative classes. Explore:
Hatha: This is best suited to those who are new, and it is a basic posture.
Vinyasa: A more flowing form and is more dynamic and connects movement with breath.
Yin: This is a meditative practice involving long-held floor poses, and targets the connective tissues.
Restorative: This final rest, with props to provide complete support to the body in poses of rest.
Your Simple Starter Kit
You truly don’t need much. I started with:
A sticky mat (you can purchase low-end ones at any number of stores).
Fashionable attire that lets you move.
An empty room, even a corner of the living room.
An open mind.
Spinning Yoga into the Thread of Your Everyday Life.
You don’t need 90 minutes a day. My practice is embedded in small details.
The 5-Minute Morning Wake-Up
Prior to checking my phone, I also perform three Cat-Cow shapes and a soft Forward Fold. It establishes a deliberate, peaceful mood on my day.
The Desk-Side De-Stressor
I sit in Seated Mountain Pose and roll my neck a couple of times when I am overwhelmed with work. It’s an instant reset.
The Pre-Sleep Wind Down
My secret weapon to sleeping is a couple of minutes of Legs-Up-The-Wall pose before going to sleep.
My Ultimate Reflection: Your Mat Awaits.
It has been an incredible experience with yoga as a tool of health and wellness. It provided me with the means to make a more resilient, stronger and calmer version of myself. Not a fix, a lifetime friend. Your mat is the place where you should be because it is a judgment-free zone and you can be the way you are. Then breathe in and then take that first step. Your well-being is worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: I’m not flexible at all. Can I still do yoga?
A: Absolutely! This is the most widespread misconception. Yoga does not mean being flexible, it means getting more flexible, body, mind. I was extremely rigid at the beginning.
Q: How frequent should the practice be?
Even a practice, however brief, is effective. I will suggest 20-30 minutes 2-3 times a week to begin with. Steadiness is much more significant than time.
Q: Am I required to attend a studio or can I study online?
A: Both are great options! I began watching beginner-friendly videos online at my home. It is an amazing, stress-free method of establishing trust.