02 Jan Yoga… The Union Of Mind, Body & Spirit
Yoga… The Union Of Mind, Body & Spirit
Fitness trends come and go but no other exercise program has been around as long as yoga. People have been benefiting from this holistic approach to mind, body and self discovery for more than 5000 years.
Much more than just burning calories and building muscle, yoga is a practice that helps us find a physical and mental balance through thought, breath, posture and relaxation for a total body experience.
You don’t have to be able to twist yourself like a pretzel or even touch your toes to be able to do yoga. There are many forms of yoga. From gentle Hatha and peaceful yin yoga to the high intensity power of Bikram yoga, you will find the type of yoga that will suit your needs and fitness levels and how you want to live life.
Our 14 day SUMMER YOGA CHALLENGE STARTS NOVEMBER 19TH
Everyone has heard practising yoga is good for them but what are the benefits?
Yoga improves flexibility, prevents loss of mobility and can reduce the risk of injury during exercise and everyday activities. Reducing muscle tension through stretching can ease chronic pain and headaches and encourages better circulation which helps the blood flow to the muscles and joints and carries oxygen and nutrients more efficiently through the body.
Good for heart health. Practicing a vigorous style of yoga like Bikram, Ashtanga and CARDIO Yoga Flow can produce the same benefits as traditional western exercise by increasing fitness and normalising blood pressure. It decreases the stress hormones which helps lower inflammation that can weaken your heart and damage arteries.
Yoga builds strength & improves balance. Holding poses for an extended amount of time using your own body weight is more challenging than most people think. Weight bearing exercise improves bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis. When practising yoga you recruit other muscle groups as stabilisers as well as the major muscles used in each pose which helps to improve balance.
Yoga reduces anxiety, stress & helps you sleep better. People who practice yoga regularly report lower levels of stress and increased feelings of happiness and wellbeing. Exercising increases the level of ‘feel-good’ chemicals in the brain which has a mood lifting effect. Yoga breathing exercises will help you slow down the mind and change the way the body reacts to stress. Focusing on the breath can help calm the nervous system and quieten the mind helping you get a restful sleep.
Yoga creates inner strength. As well as building physical strength, practicing yoga strengthens the mind. Pushing your physical boundaries and being uncomfortable builds endurance and a sense of ‘I can do this!’ and it gets stronger and stronger the more you practice the physical poses. Tuning in and listening to the thoughts going through your head and the ability to change the thoughts is a powerful tool. This strength you develop over time on the yoga mat can be used every day out in the ‘real world’.
‘NAMASTE’
