Why it’s more than just mind + body
Have you ever wondered why people who do yoga seem so in love with it? Well, it turns out a yoga class isn’t just a room full of people lying pretzel-shaped on the floor. Dina Tsouluhas, a founder of Moksha Yoga in Montreal, and Matt Phippen, a veteran yoga instructor, say there’s a lot more to the practice of yoga than meets the eye. Below are 10 things you may not have known yoga was good for.
1. Let it go
Just like Elsa sings in Disney’s Frozen, yoga is all about letting things go–stress, thoughts and worries. It’s about reevaluating the situations in your life with a clear mind.
“Sometimes we make an issue out of something that isn’t really an issue,” said Tsouluhas. “Take a minute to disassociate and it doesn’t seem like such a big deal. Yoga gives you the chance to just think.”
2. When you’re down
Because of its meditative qualities, yoga is often used to battle mental disorders like anxiety and depression. It’s great for your mental health to take a few moments to clear your mind of the negativity–though it may be hard at first.
“All those mental disorders that are heavy, emotional, you can learn to get rid of them. I know it,” said Phippen, who has battled his own inner demons. “It tunes out all the chatter.”
3. Sleep soundly
Are you one of those people who can’t seem to get a good night’s sleep? If you’ve ever taken a yoga class, you know it always ends with savasana, or corpse pose. There’s a hidden benefit to lying down after sweating it out for an hour.
“You’re supposed to detach from your brain so your body can completely let go,” said Tsouluhas. “That’s good practice for when you’re going to sleep. It teaches your body to relax. Some people don’t even know what that feels like.”
4. Breath is movement
“If you get the breath linked with how you move, it has a really great effect on the body as a whole,” said Tsouluhas. She demonstrates by inhaling as she lifts her arms and exhaling as she brings her palms in a prayer position in front of her heart.
Breathing is important because it regulates the oxygen-carbon dioxide concentration in our bodies, which is directly linked to our respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous system. Tsouluhas recommends concentrating on taking long breaths, even when doing high-intensity activities like running.
5. Your ticker
There’s no denying that yoga is great for the heart. It’s not only a cardio work out, but it also helps with strength and endurance.
“When you get the blood going, your body gets the nutrients faster,” said Phippen, who explains certain poses cut off circulation to the limbs. You feel a warming sensation when the pose is released because there’s a rush of blood and oxygen to the furthest extremities. “It’s an organic practice. It plays on the organs, to make room for them to function better.”
6. Stand taller
Having taught yoga for over 15 years, Tsouluhas admits she’s surprised by how many people have bad posture.
“We often ask people to lift their sternum or heart up and they’re like ‘what?’” she said. “Posture affects everything.”
During a class, Tsouluhas will ask students to turn their hips or align their shoulders. The movements are subtle, but people often leave standing just a little taller.
7. Your love life
Not only does yoga make you more, ahem, flexible, but it teaches you to be in the moment–something that is definitely guaranteed to improve all aspects of your love life. Yoga also has a particular benefit for men.
“Yoga helps you concentrate,” said Phippen. “It gives you confidence to, well, perform, and that’s something that a lot of men struggle with, especially when they’re young.”
8. Your digestion
When you’re sitting at a desk all day, everything from your lungs to your liver and stomach get squished. You may find your neck, back and even digestive issues disappear once you start moving.
“When you live a sedentary lifestyle, you’re slumped over and that affects your digestive organs,” said Tsouluhas. “When people do yoga and they’re forced to lift up and stretch. It changes where your organs are situated.”
9. Laugh at yourself
Walking into a yoga class for the first time can be intimidating. Shake it off, says Phippen. If you fall over, just laugh and move on–you’ll thank yourself for it later. Being too serious defeats the purpose of doing yoga.
“Yoga opens people up emotionally,” he said. “I see a lot of grumpy old men come in and after a few classes they’re like ‘see you later, Matt! Thanks for the great class!’”
10. Motivate yourself
When Tsouluhas says “motive yourself, she doesn’t just mean physically. She’s talking about balancing the different aspects of your life, one of the greatest benefits to a regular yoga practice.
“If it makes you feel amazing, keep doing what makes you feel amazing,” she insisted. “You’re supposed to bring your practice of yoga and take it into your life.”
Whether you want to get in shape or get in touch with your spiritual side, Tsouluhas has just one piece of advice: “Learn to know yourself. That’s hard to do.”
From: divine.ca