Ever wonder why yoga is so popular? I have news for you—yoga is a healing, strengthening, calming, and empowering practice that offers something for everybody, regardless of their age, gender, race, size, shape, background, and yes, even their fitness level!
However, it seems that a lot of people are still hesitant to enter the world of yoga, largely because of misconceptions about it being hard or only for people who are ‘wired’ a certain way.
This is completely untrue; anyone can practice yoga and enjoy its many health benefits. Here are some of the key reasons yoga is a great practice for everyone.
It’s a powerful stress-buster.
The anti-stress properties of yoga benefit people from all walks of life. In yoga, we learn to pay attention to our breath, and our breath is the easiest way to change our mindset and emotional state.
It’s a great way to strengthen the body.
When we practice yoga, we use our own body to support us in different postures. Yoga helps us develop strength from by using our core to support us and by engaging our muscles actively to keep us in a pose.
It’s an amazing tool for improving your flexibility.
When you start a yoga practice, it is all about stretching your own limitations. You will find that the breath helps you go deeper into each posture and you open up more every day. It takes time but you will see progress the more you practice.
It’s the best way to connect to your inner self.
Yoga is the time to tune in to one’s own inner voice. Yoga is non-competitive, lifelong journey. The more you get to know yourself on the mat, the easier it is to be your authentic self in the world.
It’s empowering.
Yoga helps you tune in to your own instincts and lead from your heart and instinct. You will learn to listen to your inner voice and trust yourself. Yoga is all about being powerful and kind.
It’s a non-competitive practice, adaptable to every shape, size, gender, and age group.
Because yoga isn’t one size fits all, you can adapt it to your own body. There is a basic outline and alignment for each posture, but yoga is very much also about listening to your own body and moving from within.
It can be done anywhere, anytime.
All you need is your body and breath to practice yoga. Mats are easy to make yourself more comfortable, but you can also just use a towel or even the floor. You don’t need any fancy props to do yoga, and it’s amazing to be anywhere in the world or even just at your desk chair and be able to break out a few yoga moves.
It’s difficult to get injuries practicing yoga (as long as you practice mindfully & with awareness!)
Yoga is a low impact workout that lubricates the joints and massages the muscles. You can practice yoga for your entire life and use it as an aid for staying young and agile. There are many older yogis who practice staying open physically and mentally for the whole length in their life journey.
It’s fun.
Yoga can trigger your inner child. You get to go upside down, roar like a lion, take all sorts of fun shapes, and even sort of nap at the end of your practice. It’s truly one of the few times you can just let go and be free.
It’s life-changing.
Yoga has literally changed my life, and I think it will change yours as well. If you start practicing now, beware —you may discover something so magical, you’ll never return to the way you used to be before yoga came into your life.
