Hello yogis.

It is worth baring in mind that there are many forms of yoga and each one brings with it, it's own unique journey and benefits so if you don't fancy rolling around on the floor, why not try a chair yoga session or a meditation class. 

Have you ever thought about Karma yoga? This is where you practice your daily tasks and work, from a place of devotion to and gratitude for that given task or job...now there is a challenge!

Please don't give up yoga if you have had experiences in the past that may have put you off. Finding the right teacher for you is crucial to your enjoyment of yoga. There are lots of styles of yoga out there and lots of different ways of teaching them. So look for a teacher who practices regularly themselves, continues to study and is sympathetic to the students they have in front of them.
Now back to the benefits!

Tones the muscles

• A regular practice of yoga will tone all those inner supporting muscles that keep the body strong and supported. Where body building builds bulk, a regular yoga practice can help you to cultivate a slimmer, firmer and leaner physique. It will also help to protect against back ache and joint pain as the muscles learn to support the joints correctly.
Increases flexibility

• Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be flexible to practice yoga. Yoga is just as much about building strength as it is about increasing flexibility. Some people may be born with longer hamstrings and longer arms, and these are often what influences one's ability to touch toes or to bind hands behind the back, whilst in a spinal twist. Some people may be hyper mobile. This condition may make yoga appear easier but it is often the case that someone who is hyper mobile may find their joints are very unstable and sometimes uncomfortable so the emphasis as a yoga instructor would be to draw back from moving further into a pose and instead to focus on holding a pose at a more comfortable point, in order to build up strength in the muscles.
Strengthens the immune system

• We have 4 times as much interstitial fluid in the body as we do blood, and no way of pumping it around our lymphatic system, other than through the movement of the body and through the movement of the breath. When one leads a sedentary lifestyle, the immune system does not receive enough stimulation and toxins begin to build up in the body. By cultivating a regular yoga practice, you will find that you suffer from less coughs and colds and when you do get ill, when rested you will find that you get better more quickly.
Increases the life energy

• Everything in life is made up of energy of differing frequencies. Your energy system is subtle but important. A balanced energy system breeds optimum health, where as imbalances can lead to illness and disease. Your breath directly influences your emotions and vice versa. Through yoga, you learn to beathe correctly and your confidence and mental outlook is often improved. Through the practice of Pranayama breathing techniques, you consciously focus your breath in such a way to preserve the energy that the breath is giving to you. This energy is known as Prana or Pranic energy. If you sit or lie really still and allow the breath to relax completely until it is almost unnoticeable, you may be able to feel the gentle lift in energy the inhalation brings and the gentle downward flow in energy that the exhalation encourages.
Helps you lose weight

• Different styles of yoga, cultivate different responses within the body. Slower forms of yoga may not burn so many calories but it is said that when breathing correctly and allowing oxygen into the body you begin to burn fat more efficiently. When moving towards a yogic lifestyle, the food you eat may be influenced as your sensitivity to what is good for you and what is bad for you becomes more fine-tuned, your increased awareness to your body's needs and requirements and the new found energy you receive, will all have a balancing effect on your weight. As you build muscle, your metabolism will increase and your body will burn fat more efficiently.
Aids digestion

• Lack of movement in life slows down all the systems of the body, including your digestion. Your digestion works from right to left so when you move and twist in yoga, you can encourage movement through the digestive process. Drawing the knee to the chest is a good example. It is worth noting that you should practice yoga on an empty stomach. As mentioned above, your tastebuds may change and you may find that you want to drink more water, and cultivate a more natural way of preparing food, with finer ingredients that are easier for your body to digest. Cultivating a more balanced emotional connection to yourself and those around you will also help your digestion as stress has a huge influence on one's digestive cycles and can lead to anything from constipation to extended trips to the toilet!
Balances the body and mind

• All of the above have given you a small insight into some of the ways yoga helps the body and the mind. Just taking time out of your busy schedule to be nurtured in a yoga class can do wonders for every aspect of your wellbeing. So why not jump on your mat! The ultimate goal of yoga is to unite the mind with the body and the body with the soul.

Should you be influenced by a specific injury or complaint, then Yoga Therapy may be a more beneficial path for you. It is always advisable to contact your GP when beginning a new programme of diet or exercise.

Please contact me with any questions you may have about yoga or the classes I offer!

Carrie-Anne.