Dear friends,
First of all, I want to say that I hope whoever is reading this decides to take some time out of the day today to do something for yourself, whether it be for the mind, body, or soul. Maybe after reading this, you'll decide to try out some yoga and do something for the mind, body, AND soul. ;)
This semester has been a busy one (and my last full one of my undergrad!) which is why I decided to treat myself and take a Kinesiology course in ---yep, you guessed it---YOGA. And boy I am so glad that I did!
Not only have I been learning new poses and techniques, but I've also been finding out more about the benefits that yoga can provide to the body and mind. As a matter of fact, this morning I did one of my classes, and right after, I felt refreshed, invigorated, relaxed, and ready to tackle whatever came my way throughout the day!
Today, I'll be discussing how yoga affects the body and the mind while sharing ways you can use it as a form of self care. Most people are aware of what yoga entails, but, I'll provide a little background for those who don't.
The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word "yuj" which means "to unite" or "to yoke". As a matter of fact, most yoga poses have a Sanskrit word for them as well, especially for poses with multiple forms. A lot of times, yoga teachers will prefer to use the Sanskrit terminology while teaching yoga so that no one gets words confused with Western terminology. Some poses can have more than three variations, so it can get confusing at times if the Sanskrit word is not used.
The ultimate goal of yoga is to unite the body with the mind. Once an individual has reached the perfect balance, or "harmony", through the practice of yoga, they become known as a "yogi". For centuries. this ancient practice has been around, and it becomes more and more popular in our modern society by the day.
For me, yoga helps me manage my stress, anxiety, depression, and lower back pain that I have dealt with since high school. Genuinely, I can tell a difference between the times I practice regularly and the times I do not. I try to make it my goal to do it at least 2 - 3 times a week, even if it's just a little bit. My boyfriend does yoga everyday, because of all of the weight lifting and exercise he does. Honestly, I should do yoga everyday just because of the pain reduction I notice in my back, but sometimes I am just too busy or have too much going on. However, I try to carve out some time in the week for it even if I am busy, because that is how much it helps me.
Obviously, exercise in general provides the body, mind, and soul with tremendous benefits, but I wanted to find out what research has actually said about the benefits involved with yoga.
In one research article I was reading, researchers found a significant decrease in depression among participants as a result of practiced yoga. Another study from the library of the National Institute of Health reiterates the same findings that show yoga can decrease feelings of depression in individuals who practice regularly. Furthermore, research has shown that yoga can increase muscle tone, cardiorespiratory functioning, flexibility, and overall well-being while promoting recovery/treatment for addiction, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and chronic pain. Not to mention, yoga can change your perspectives while teaching you to appreciate all of the wonderful things the human body can do.
These are just some of the findings I found while going through research literature and discussing in my kinesiology class. For anything and everything, I implore you to do your own research. You are likely to find more understanding and knowledge when you look into a topic for yourself. I highly recommend doing this with yoga as there is so much involved that it would take a book for me to explain everything there is to know. Not to mention, I don't consider myself an expert in the field. I am simply trying to share the benefits that yoga can provide and draw more awareness to the practice.
In a way, yoga is like therapy. It's that 30 minutes or an hour out of the day you set aside specifically for the care and betterment of yourself. Instead of clearing your mind, you learn to be aware, mindful, and understanding of your thoughts while eventually being able to let them go. The deep breathing that is used during yoga enhances flow and centers you when your mind wanders. Throughout the whole process, you seek to find the balance between your body and mind. If that doesn't sound like therapy to you, then I don't know what will. :') And before I forget, let me remind you that one form of therapy does not work for everyone. So, if you try yoga for awhile and notice no changes or relatively little ones, then it might not be the best therapy for you, or you may not be doing it right or regularly enough.
Anyways, I hope this article widened your eyes to the benefits one can receive from practicing yoga. Also, I hope this article inspires you to try some form of yoga, either today or sometime soon! Keep your head high and your spirits higher my friends! Until next time...
xoxo,
Allie
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