Is Yoga Overrated? 5 Reasons Yoga Lives Up to the Hype
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You’ve heard it talked about, your friends are doing it, and celebrities can’t get enough of it. There’s no denying it: Yoga is all the rage.
I’m not just talking about experimental, experiential trends, like goat yoga, laughter yoga or naked yoga (there’s debate in the industry about how authentic those practices are, and if that authenticity matters). I’m talking about the traditions of Yoga that originated in ancient India as a group of physical, mental and spiritual exercises.
Yoga has unfolded in the Western world as a posture-based fitness, stress-relief and relaxation routine, with a philosophy of wellness that sometimes includes spirituality. And if you’re one of the more than 30 million Americans onboard the yoga train, namaste.
If you’re not yet onboard the yoga train, and you’re standing at the station wondering if it’s worth the ride, there are many grounds for setting your skepticism aside and letting yoga become a part of your life’s journey. Here are five reasons why yoga can greatly enhance the quality of the life you are living today.
You can customize your yoga practice
There are many forms of yoga and there’s an option for everyone. You want a killer workout? Give buti yoga a shot. Some people love the continuous movement of Vinyasa, while others deem it physically challenging. Those folks might love Hatha yoga, and its focus on stretching and strengthening. Restorative yoga is de-stressing. Hot yoga is a sweat-inducing physical workout. Gentle yoga is like a warm hug you can give yourself after a long, hard day.
If you’ve tried yoga and felt it wasn’t right for you, take another class armed with more information about the different types of yoga. Don’t discount the practice, thinking it doesn’t suit you or is not for you, when what you need to do is find the “just right” class for you.
To do that, first consider your goals. Are you looking for exercise, strength training, a mind-body meditation, stress management, greater mobility, or increased flexibility? Check out our guide to different types of yoga and do a basic internet search to find a yoga practice near you or an online yoga streaming service that focuses on your desired outcome, to find a program that motivates you and helps you embark on your journey.
You can practice yoga at home
Speaking of streaming services, one blessing of our time is the fact that yoga classes have become virtually accessible. Most studios and private practice teachers now offer classes via Zoom or other webcam based video and audio conferencing system.
Alternatively, you can practice yoga in your living room using an app like Openfit. Openfit offers Yoga52, a live virtual class that is designed to evolve with you as you learn and narrated so you never have to look up from your mat.
Practicing in your own space means you can drop your inhibitions. There’s no comparing yourself to others, no reason to feel self-conscious. You can start (or expand) your yoga practice without being visible to others. Without worrying if people will see you lose your balance or your lack of experience, you won’t hold back and might surprise yourself with how far you grow in a short period of time.
Also, distance yoga options mean you aren’t restricted to class schedules or consumed by time driving to and from a studio. You can take to your mat for 20 minutes or a full hour, once a day (or more often) or a few times a week (or less often). The choice is fully yours, to learn yoga at your own pace, on a schedule that fits into your life and your lifestyle.
You create the yoga practice you want
As the previous points explain, there’s a variety of yoga types and a myriad of ways to do yoga in the privacy of your own home. Those nuances empower you to make all the decisions, even within the practice itself, and get what you want out of your practice like never before.
Take advantage of the modifications to each pose if you are recovering from an injury or are limited in your flexibility or reach. How you feel matters in yoga, so you decide if you push yourself further in an pose. Yoga teaches you to listen to your body that way and a home practice can give you freedom to experiment with what feels right, for you.
Each time you take to the mat, you are in charge of yourself and are able to create the experience you want to have. It’s your practice and there has never been a better time to make your yoga practice your own.
Yoga incorporates other wellness practices
Most yoga classes have a meditative, mindfulness component; a focus on breathing, being grounded, and an awareness of the physical sensations in your body. And among other benefits, mindfulness helps relieve stress, lower blood pressure, and improve sleep.
You might find also yourself being led on a guided visualization, decreasing stress and anxiety, increasing relaxation, and enhancing inner strength and creativity. Your teacher might focus on setting intentions for your day, or repeating a positive affirmation for self-improvement and empowerment. (For example, my practice this morning had me affirming with this mantra: When I sit down, my ideas flow freely.)
The self-awareness that comes from yoga isn’t only in the form of the movement. It is truly a mind-body connection and opportunity for improvement.
Yoga enhances physical fitness
Yoga works your entire body; it tones muscles you don’t even know you have and burns fat you, well, you probably know you have. It can improve aerobic capacity and lung function. Studies have shown that yoga is enough to keep you physically fit (so if cardio isn’t your thing, take that pressure of yourself, buy an inexpensive yoga mat and donate your old running shoes today).
You need not be flexible to do yoga, though your flexibility will improve with regularity. You need not be strong to do yoga, though you will increase your strength. One yogi friend of mine says yoga is the ultimate moving meditation, allowing her to stop the world for a few minutes each day and focus only on her body. She comes away from each practice feeling grounded, centered, stronger and more beautiful from the inside out.
Feel convinced you want to try it (again)? Just as you should with any new exercise program, please consult your physician before beginning to make sure you start on the track to greater health and wellness, safely.
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