When most people think of yoga, they imagine an incredibly fit person contorting their bodies or standing on their heads. We’ve got good news for you – yoga is so much more than that.
Yoga is an ancient practice that, at its core, is about connecting your mind, body and spirit in a way that serves you and the people around you.
There are countless benefits to practicing yoga on a regular basis, but we’ll break down 8 of our favorite ways that yoga can enrich your life.
1. Connection ~ In Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language, the literal meaning of “yoga” is to add, join or unite. Yoga allows us to connect with ourselves through breath, movement and meditation. As we become more in tune with our minds and bodies, we are better able to connect with those around us from a place of truth and openness. Joining a yoga studio is also an incredible way to find a community of like-minded individuals with a love for connection.
2. Promotes Mindfulness ~ Yoga encourages us to get out of our heads and into our bodies. As we link our breath to movement, we are only focusing on the present moment. Through meditation, we learn to acknowledge and set thoughts, emotions and feelings free, rather than ruminating or attaching to them. This in-the-moment state of being is what mindfulness is made of. The more you practice, the more mindfulness on the mat will translate to life off the mat. As a result, yoga often improves the ability to focus and increases reaction time.
3. Improves Flexibility ~ Can’t touch your toes? Don’t worry. That’s what yoga is for. Even though you aren’t expected to fold into a pretzel (unless you really want to), yoga postures, or Asanas, will greatly increase your flexibility over time. We spend so much of our lives sitting, hunched over our desks or our phones – it takes time to undo that, open our bodies and find flexibility. As you continue to practice yoga, you may even notice your aches and pains begin to melt away as you release tension from your hips and hamstrings. If you’re an athlete or enjoy other forms of exercise, increased flexibil
4. Improves Mood ~ Yoga makes you happy! Studies have shown that, as we strengthen the mind-body connection, our bodies increase the level of gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, a chemical that helps to regulate nerve activity. Increased GABA activity decreases depression and anxiety while improving your overall mood! The mindfulness practice mentioned before also trains the mind to distance itself from negative emotions and provides a “gap” between emotion and response that leads to a more fulfilling life.
5. Strengthens Muscles ~ Many people don’t view yoga as a true “workout.” Let me tell you – these people are mistaken. The most common Western style of yoga, Vinyasa or Power Flow, is a strength-based practice that engages and strengthens the entire body through a series of postures. Yoga is a body weight workout, but don’t let that fool you. After several Chaturanga pushups and Warrior II holds, you will be feeling the burn. Yoga also allows constant progression. As you become stronger, there will always be a more advanced pose to try. That’s why we call yoga a “practice” – there are endless postures, which means you are never done learning, growing and getting stronger.
6. Improves Cardiovascular Function ~ When you take Vinyasa or Ashtanga yoga classes, you will elevate your heart rate into the aerobic range, which greatly decreases your risk of heart disease. Studies have also shown that yoga practitioners have lower resting heart rates, increased endurance and improved lung capacity. Even Pranayama, or breath practice, alone will help you to do more exercise with less oxygen. Pretty incredible, right?
7. Boosts Immune System ~ Yoga can help you stay healthy long-term. When you practice physical exercise that expands and contracts your muscles, you increase lymphatic drainage. The more this happens, the more easily your body is able to kill cancerous cells, fight infection, and eliminate toxins. But it’s not just the Asanas that boost your immunity – meditation has also been proven to increase overall immune function.
8. It’s FUN! ~ Yoga gives us the space to play and call it “exercise.” Yoga teachers and studios encourage clients to try fun, challenging poses, like handstand or arm balances, without fear of failure. In yoga, we learn that falling is part of getting stronger, and no one judges you for attempting a handstand or Crow pose and toppling over. Without the pressure of perfection or the “no pain, no gain” mentality that often comes along with fitness, yoga can be a carefree practice that reminds you what it’s like to be a kid.
We could list the benefits of yoga for pages and pages, but what it all comes down to is that yoga makes you FEEL GOOD. When we feel good, we spread those good vibes around to the people around us. What could be better than that?
About Om Yoga
If you’re looking to start (or continue) your yoga journey, come see us at Om Yoga! Om is a locally-owned, community-first studio in Baxter Village in Fort Mill, SC. We are beyond passionate about sharing the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of yoga. Join us to experience a nurturing environment to move, breathe, connect, and learn. Through sharing this special practice, we hope to inspire everyone in our community to incorporate and convey yogic values including compassion, mindfulness, integrity, and purpose.
We are currently offering a new-client special - one month of unlimited yoga for $49. We are also offering some awesome experiences for mamas and daughters this summer:
- Girls Self Love Camp: This camp will provide a fun, creative, light-hearted environment for girls to explore self-awareness, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, self-esteem and so much more!
See more for each camp below: - Prenatal & Postpartum Yoga: We offer prenatal/postpartum yoga classes every Saturday at 11am with Laura Cox
- What is prenatal yoga? In prenatal yoga classes, we provide a supportive environment for women to practice yoga postures and breathwork specifically designed to create space for the baby and ease and manage discomforts associated with pregnancy.
- How can yoga benefit my pregnancy? Prenatal yoga offers many benefits to expecting mothers and their new babies. Practicing yoga during pregnancy has been proven to help prepare the body for childbirth; there are also a number of emotional and spiritual benefits. Physically, prenatal yoga strengthens the muscles used in childbirth, enhances flexibility, increases circulation, reduces lower back discomfort and swelling around sensitive joints, alleviates nausea, and other common pregnancy discomforts. Spiritually, the intentional breathing, meditation, and inward reflection of yoga provides a deeper sense of awareness of oneself during pregnancy and nourishes the mind and soul. It also aids in preparation to welcome a new baby into the world.
- Should I practice prenatal yoga? Prenatal classes are highly recommended for women in all stages of pregnancy. After birth, with your doctor's consent, you should be ready to resume gentle yoga exercises to restore body tone, strength, and flexibility. We recommend starting with our Gentle Yoga and Slow Flow classes.
- Can I still take non-prenatal yoga classes? Expecting mothers with a regular yoga practice prior to pregnancy can continue practicing. Inform the instructor that you are expecting and any concerns/information you would like to share. The instructor can provide specific modifications as needed.
- What should I bring to class? Bring your yoga mat and water. A small blanket and/or pillow are optional. We have blocks and straps at the studio; we also rent mats and sell water!
