Give Yoga a Second Chance
Yoga seems to fall somewhere in the love it or hate it zone for just about everyone. It can carry a bit of a stigma and has a perceived sense of perfection, but it’s all a veritable cure all. Coming in a number of different forms, styles, and methods, there’s seemingly a yoga to fit every mind and body out there.
Search around and you’ll find yoga for seniors, yoga for kids, yoga for pregnancy, yoga for back pain, yoga for arthritis, yoga for first responders, yoga for bloggers, yoga for runners… the list seriously goes on, and on, and on! So surely there a yoga for… you!
The practice is a health benefit boon, with experts espousing the myriad ways in which yoga benefits the mind, body, and soul, including aches, pains, diseases, and more. The American Osteopathic Association calls yoga “a healing system of theory and practice. The purpose of yoga is to create strength, awareness and harmony in both the mind and body.”
Yoga improves flexibility, muscle strength, and muscle tone. It contributes to a balanced metabolism, weight loss and/or maintenance, and overall improved athletic ability. Cardiovascular, circulatory, and respiratory systems all positively benefit from a routine yoga practice. Injury prevention and recovery are improved. The ability to focus, cope, sleep, and enjoy overall more positive mental health are also part of yoga’s benefits.
“Because there are so many different kinds of yoga practices, it is possible for anyone to start,” promotes the AOA.
So why haven’t you?
You don’t have to be perfect.
You don’t have to be bendy.
You don’t have to make a serious commitment.
You don’t have to have the clothes.
Yes, you may fart.
Yes, you may fall over.
Yes, you may giggle.
Yes, you’ll get sweaty.
Yes, you may feel things.
No, you won’t be judged. Remember, everyone else in the room is just as preoccupied with getting it right as you are. They don’t have energy or focus to waste looking to see how awkward your first-ever attempt at a sun salutation looks.
(They also don’t care!)
Yoga is a single-player sport. You may join a few others in a room and share that kinetic energy, but ultimately, it’s you and your body coming together in an experience meant to strengthen and heal.
So if you’re looking for yoga for better sleep, yoga for better sex, yoga for depression, yoga for anger, yoga for cyclists, yoga for single moms, yoga for working moms, yoga for families, yoga for grandparents… yes, even yoga for dogs… it’s out there.
Try a class, give it ten minutes when you need a break, or test the waters with YouTube videos at home. Just show up and you’re already half way there.