The benefits of a regular Yoga practice

By Caroline Gozzi

Why do we practise Yoga? Well there are so many reasons, and the reason why one person might come to a class can be completely different from the reasons another person comes to class, and this is great.  Here are 8 benefits (in no particular order) for incorporating a regular Yoga practice into your life:

1.      Improves strength and flexibility

Strength and flexibility are both important and a regular balanced Yoga practice will help you maintain both. Strength becomes increasingly important as we age to ensure we maintain bone density. Creating strong muscles also helps protect us from conditions such as arthritis and back pain.  The difference with gaining strength through your Yoga practice that you are also balancing your flexibility. Tight hips and back become a thing of the past.

2.      Perfects your posture

How many of us hunch over a computer screen all day? Lifting heavy bags, children? Yoga counterbalances these strains we put on our bodies or bad habits. The alignment principles we learn in class often translate into our everyday lives.

3.      Reduces stress and anxiety

Taking time to focus on our breath and learn how to manage our breathing through our practice and to be present can have wonders for stress management and dealing with anxiety, increasingly an issue in our society and the way we live.

4.      Gives your immune system a boost

Sweating, moving and breathing gets the body working and this has huge benefits for our immune system. Have you found that since you’ve started your Yoga practice you are hardly ever ill? Winter colds a thing of the past? It really is true!

5.      Helps with improving muscle tone and weight management

If you practise regularly you will start to see a change to your shape, your muscles will gain more tone and your body will change shape. You develop stronger and leaner muscles.

6.      Become more mindful

Yoga is one of the most mindful activities you can take up. Yoga is all about being mindful, about being present and connecting with the present moment and with others.

7.      Be happier

Do you find you leave class with a smile on your face? It doesn’t matter how your class went you always feel better once the class is finished. It is true, the endorphins make you happier!

8.      An opportunity to make new friends!

When you join a studio you become part of a community, you are sharing an interest with like-minded people and it is only a matter of time before friendships form, some of them are friendships for life and isn’t that just amazing!

By Caroline Gozzi