Self Care and Yoga

It is undeniable that we live in an increasingly stressful and fast-paced world. Pressure from work, life, study, family, relationships, not to mention social media, means we are often on the go and on the look out for everyone else. The last thing we do is spend time looking after our own body and mind, and if we don’t manage this then we aren’t able to do all the ‘super human’ things that are expected of us.

Taking a bit of time for ourselves to relax can make such a difference. When we relax, we feel better about ourselves, feel more in charge and more able to deal with the day ahead. It can also give us the opportunity to reflect, step off the treadmill and have the perspective to see what we really need in our lives and what we perhaps can remove from our task list.

How can Yoga help? Practising Yoga can be instrumental in our self care, be it our physical asana practice, breathwork, meditation or chanting. These practices can be some of the best forms of self care, instantly reducing stress, muscle tension, and helping you feel more confident. The benefits are endless: helping to boost our immune system (particularly after what has felt like a long winter of colds and bugs), managing chronic illnesses,  building strength and flexibility, building confidence, managing anxiety,  and not to mention stress reduction.

Taking time for our practice is so important. We know getting to class can be challenging at times but scheduling this into your busy week can make a huge difference. If you can’t get to class then taking 10-15 minutes each day to practise some simple asana and breathing can make a huge difference. Why not give it a go and see the changes take shape?

By Caroline Gozzi