The Benefits of Yoga

A group of people practicing standing forward bend pose in an outdoor yoga class.

People come to practice yoga for all sorts of reasons, all of which are valid and respected. Practicing yoga on a regular basis will have a positive impact on your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. I would go so far as to say that yoga has transformed my life, and I know many people who feel the same way. I started practicing yoga to increase mobility. I felt my body stiffening up and becoming less supple. Very soon, I learnt that yoga had much more to offer, and I began to appreciate the way yoga helped me to slow down and relax. I always felt wonderfully calm and peaceful by the end of each class.

"Yoga is not about touching your toes. It is what you learn on the way down".

Yoga Off the Mat

Over time I noticed this calm spilling out into my daily life. When I first started attending weekly yoga classes, I was a busy working mum of three young children. Taking regular time out, just for me, helped me cope much better with the challenge of combining work and family life. My awareness of self and others grew, and my relationships improved dramatically. I discovered an inner strength and strong spirit. Eventually, I noticed feeling much more positive in my outlook. In a nutshell, I felt happy!

Physical Benefits

Yoga is a fabulous way to keep our bodies healthy; strong, supple, and full of vitality. Yoga exercises all the systems of the body; musculoskeletal, circulatory, lymphatic, immune, digestive, excretory, reproductive, endocrine, and nervous systems. It really is a complete way of caring for the body and improving health.

Mental & Emotional Benefits

Yoga has a powerful effect on our thoughts and our feelings. After just one session, many people report a profound sense of calm and feeling relaxed like never before. The more we practice, the more relaxed and peaceful we become. Over time we notice changes occurring at a very deep level impacting our daily lives. Not only do we feel much calmer and more peaceful, but we also begin to think more clearly. Our awareness and emotional intelligence increase which improves our relationships. Our inner strength and confidence increase too, and we feel a growing sense of positivity and happiness. It is powerful stuff!

A woman standing looking peaceful with her hands in front of her heart in the prayer position.

Spiritual Needs

Yoga is not a religion; however, it does strengthen our sense of spirituality. Yoga helps us to connect on a deeper level with ourselves and to others, and to something greater than ourselves, according to our own religious and spiritual beliefs.