This past weekend we completed our final days of the CPM yoga teacher training. It was so great to watch these women come from being nervous about teaching a pose to teaching a full hour class to students all on their own.
It was great to hear how each one of them wanted to teach or learn more about yoga for many different purposes. Some wanted to teach kids, others wanted to help co-workers, some wanted to learn more about their practice, and some were not sure where they wanted to take it.
Throughout the last few weeks the common theme was “how great people where feeling from yoga”.
So I came to the conclusion that It doesn’t matter what level you are at or “how flexible you are, etc… everyone starts somewhere.
The best part is yoga can be part of your daily routine for the rest of your life. I was talking to my grandma this week and she is doing a weekly “chair yoga” at her gym. This really helps her to be able to move better and reduce muscle and joint tightness and the aches and pains.
For me personally I wanted to do yoga because I was sick and tired of being injured. I wanted to find a good compromise, where I could feel the yoga benefits, yet still have a kick butt workout!
Well I found this through my yoga for athletes class, I felt this style was created just for me and I loved it!
Not only were my injuries feeling better, I was gaining tremendous strength and flexibility just by committing myself to once a week.
I started to wonder if yoga was benefitting me so much in these areas, what other benefits did Yoga have?
Whether you’re taking one yoga class a week, spending five minutes mindfully stretching each morning, or doing something more, your body and mind will thank you.
Everyone should try yoga and here is why:
- Less anxiety and a better mood. A 2010 study found that practicing yoga just three times a week increased levels of chemicals in the brain that help combat anxiety and depression.
- Less stress. An Ohio State University study found that long-term yoga might help you recover from stressful events more quickly.
- Better control over medical conditions affected by stress. Researchers earlier this year theorized that yoga may be effective in treating patients with stress-related psychological and medical conditions such as depression, anxiety, high blood pressure and cardiac disease.
- Better management of rheumatoid arthritis. Patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis reported significant improvements in their quality of life after starting a gentle yoga practice.
- Better balance. The American Heart Association journal Stroke reported that post-stroke yoga may be able to improve balance, decrease fear of falling, and improve quality of.
- Less back pain. Back pain affects 31 million Americans (myself included), and it’s recommended by the National Institutes of Health as a way to ease pain and stretch muscles. A study funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) found that after six months of yoga, those suffering from low back pain had significantly less pain, disability, and depression. And another study found that just 12 weeks of yoga had a greater effect than standard medical care in those who suffered chronic or recurring back pain.
Yoga has also:
- Lowers blood pressure
- Mental calmness
- Reduce’s stress
- Increase’s strength
- Greater flexibility
- Pain relief and prevention
- Better breath control
- Reduces soreness in the muscles
- Gives you more confidence
With all these wonderful rewards why wouldn’t you want to incorporate some form of yoga in your life?
How has yoga changed your life fit ones?
Post in the comments below …
Fit Chic