Benefits of practicing yoga

 

Today I want to talk to you about the benefits of practicing yoga. 

Not from the 'guru' point of view, but from my point of view, I don't have time to go to the gym, I have two kids and work full-time in part-time (from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., so I assure you that when I leave work I only want to get home and spend a little time with my family, not to get involved in practicing sports) 

Now comes when you ask, and then, what about the yoga? 

If you follow me on Instagram you will already know this, but if not, I will tell you that I am an early morning enthusiast, I don't always follow 'The 5AM Club', but almost. 

I get up between 5:30 and 6AM (seasonally, in winter it is less difficult for me to get up early, in summer I rest so badly that I change the alarm clock at 6), and I do my little yoga time first, usually short sessions, half an hour is my maximum, but they are usually 15 to 20 minutes. 

 And I can tell you that for me it is a very good way to start the day.

 

Yoga, as you probably know, is a physical and spiritual practice from India. 

Is that relevant? Not for me. 

For me what is relevant is that: 

- Allows me to stay in shape without leaving home 

- I can do different types of yoga depending on my energy level 

- My back has stopped hurting (important) 

- I have gained physical balance 

- I have slimmed my muscles and lost volume 

 

But let's get to the benefits themselves.

Yoga strengthens the entire body 

No equipment is needed, you use only your own body weight as resistance. 

Like Pilates, it uses not only the main muscles, but also a lot of internal muscles and you will notice it. 

I warn you, the first few days you practice yoga, you will find sore muscles that you didn't even know you had.

You can choose stronger sequences like Vinyasa or Hatha yoga, if you want something more dynamic and effortful, but you'll see. I normally change between the different kinds. 

It helps to reduce stress 

Yoga instructor Anna de Sousa says: "Yoga helps us tune into our nervous system's rest and digest response. Our body initiates its recovery, restoration and repair functions." 

I tell you, you are so focused on the positions and on not hitting yourself that you completely disconnect from your worries, it is like an active meditation, you cannot think about anything appart of doing it wall (at least at the beginning) and if not, you can make an effort to focus in breathing, in asanas (positions) and disconnecting. 

In addition, all the positions that help you release tension in your back also help release part of that stress that holds us back. 

And of course breathing, so much emphasis is placed on breathing in yoga that when outside of training you feel overwhelmed, breathing deeply to release tension comes naturally to you. 

Different types of yoga for different times of the day 

When you start practicing it you will see, there are sessions that give you a boost of energy and others that leave you very relaxed. 

Yoga affects our nervous system, so you have to take into account what you want to stimulate in your yoga session, whether your idea is to relax before going to sleep or if it is to increase your energy before going to work. 

Yoga can help you lose weight 

Yes, if you have never done it you may be thinking... sorry? 

But it is indeed useful for losing body fat. 

Of course, ideally it would have to be combined with a small diet (in my case, cutting out sugar was more than enough). 

But if you are consistent in the practice, you will see how not only your muscles become stronger, but other organs in your body function better, your digestive system evolves and you eliminate toxins more efficiently. 

 

And well, more or less, these are the benefits that I have found in practice, what about you? do you practice yoga?