Why We Practice Yoga

Why DO we practice Yoga??

Yoga has many benefits for the health of our bodies, minds and souls.  The word yoga loosely translates as to yoke, bind, or join.  It is a uniting on many levels, of breath and movement (physical) , mind and body (mental), God and man (spiritual).  

Some of us will develop deep, personal practices.  Others will only develop a physical practice.  Most of us will have something in the middle.  All of us can greatly benefit from a regular yoga practice.

The physical benefits are perhaps the most dramatic and the first thing we notice:

• Increased flexibility that activate and stretch the joints and muscles
• Increased Lubrication of the joints, ligaments and tendons
• Massage for the internal organs, activating and toning the body's systems
• Detoxification (without pills or supplements)
• Toning of the muscles, giving us that lean, sculpted look
• Better sleep and relaxation
• More energy
• Decreased blood pressure
• Slower pulse rate
• Better circulation
• Decreased respiratory rate, indicating the respiratory system is working more efficiently
• Stronger immune system
• Balanced metabolism
• Better posture
• Strength
• Balance
• Body awareness
• Core Strength
• Dexterity
• Endurance
• Depth Perception (which is more important as we age)

Mentally, we start to notice change as well:

• Mood, increased sense of well-being
• Stress Reduction. Able to handle, adjust to stress better than before
• Reduction in anxiety.
• Positive outlook, an over-all feeling of well-being
• Self-acceptance
• Self-control
• Mind-body connection, a sense of awareness
• Increased attention
• Ability to be in the moment
• Increased social skills, feeling of community
• Increased concentration
• Calmness

Yoga can also help reduce the risks of Heart disease, Osteoporosis, Alzheimer's and Type II Diabetes. as well as help or decrease the symptoms of Asthma, Allergies, Arthritis, Back Pain, Constipation, Carpal tunnel syndrome,  Menopause, Multiple sclerosis, Muscular dystrophy, Migraines, OCD, Scoliosis, and Sciatica.

Not enough of a reason to practice???

Anais Nin once wrote, "We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are."

What an amazing and poignant statement.  But why is that??  Is it that we are self-obsessed?  Full of ego?  Simply unaware of the true nature of ourselves, others, and everything around us?

There are many physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits of yoga, all which help us balance mind and body.  This is another reason why we practice yoga.  

Yoga can, through a combination of all of it's physical and mental benefits, help us become more in tune with our bodies, our minds, and with our souls.  As we come to know ourselves, we come to understand others, and through our own calmness and acceptance, we can calmly accept others, regardless of our differences.  Yoga is, in a word, uniting.

If you haven't tried yoga yet... maybe it's time to roll out a mat.  With all of these benefits... what are you waiting for?