Here’s a truth to blow your mind: the actual poses of yoga are only one out of eight "limbs" or pillars of yoga. The others are practices of self-restraint, self-observance, breath, detachment, focused concentration, meditation, and spiritual connection.
So, no, you don’t have to be able to touch your toes to do yoga; however, you do need to be open to practicing kindness, nonviolence, letting go, and moderation.
The most widely reported benefit of yoga is the overall mindfulness and inner peace it provokes. Many yoga teachers instruct on the breath and lengthen the exhalations of the class to induce a calmer nervous system state during the physical practice of yoga.
As your heart rate goes up, your teacher may gently remind you to breathe. During class, you can expect to also hear physical body cues to enhance your mind-body connection while building strength and resilience in your body and mind.
Imagine being in class and the teacher guides you into a physical posture such as Crescent Lunge; a traditional lunge with your back leg straight, up high on your back toes with your arms overhead. Now imagine, as your muscles are shaking and your quads are burning, the teacher asks you to exhale and soften your face... You may find yourself angry, "Don’t tell me what to do!" or relieved, "Ah! There goes my tension!" or annoyed, "How long are we going to be here for?" And the only question to ask yourself at that moment is, when have I felt this way before? Your yoga practice mimics life in its twists and turns, ups and downs, while teaching you that you are, overall, safe, even when irritated and annoyed.
Yoga offers you a peek into your subconscious mind. It allows you to slow down to listen to the chatter in your mind with the intention of releasing all that doesn’t serve you. Regular yoga practice has the ability to slow your thoughts down, so you can start to listen to them. The good ones that celebrate you and the bad ones that punish you day after day.
Along with decreasing your negative self-talk, research shows that yoga has been proven to decrease your resting heart rate, blood pressure, and time spent in sympathetic activation (aka the stress system/fight or flight). When you spend less time in fight or flight, you’re able to stay fully present and even sleep better. If you struggle with sleep, invite your yoga practice to your bed: it's
Lay for 5–10 minutes with your feet up the wall or headboard, gently resting your eyes. One hand on your heart and one hand on your belly. Inhale for 5 seconds while feeling your belly rise first, then your chest. Exhale for 6 seconds while feeling your chest fall and then your belly. If you’re having trouble feeling your belly activate, extend your exhalation for as long as you can push the air out. Keep pushing... That's your diaphragm! Take your hand there and breathe into it! Remember, this is practice!
The best part? There’s no "right" way to do yoga!
What your yoga could look like:
Sitting quietly for 5 minutes, focusing on one object (hold it in your hands or gently gaze at it!)
Walking quietly (no music!) while checking in with all five senses periodically throughout the walk
Taking a power, yin, or restorative yoga class
Inhale for 5 seconds, breathing in through your belly, ribs, and chest, followed by a longer 6 second exhale out your chest — ribs — belly. Repeat for a certain amount of time or cycles of breath
What is International Day of Yoga?
About Author
You must be logged in to post a comment.