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It took me a long time to become a yogi. I aspired to be one, I wanted to be one. But it just wasn’t clicking for me. You see, I expected to be dripping with sweat after a workout. Most yoga sessions weren’t doing that for me. The thing is, I was thinking about this all wrong. Yoga is more than a physical exercise. It’s a whole philosophy. In this article, I will share the top 7 benefits of yoga I experienced when I finally implemented a consistent practice.
What is yoga?
Many people would describe yoga as a physical exercise that consists in performing a series of poses and breathing exercises. It may look like this on the surface. However, yoga is more than this. It’s a philosophy.
Yoga is a Sanskrit word that means union. Specifically, the union of the mind, body, and soul. They should not be seen as distinct and independent entities. Therefore, through yoga, we seek to find and sustain awareness.
Yoga dates back thousands of years. But, the traditional yoga practice looks nothing like what we call yoga today. It has evolved a lot. At the start, it was primarily focused on meditation. Over time, it became a mix of physical and mental exercises. The fitness component of yoga did not emerge until about 100 years ago.
The practice of yoga involves eight components. They are referred to as the eight limbs of yoga.
- YAMA – abstinences
- NIYAMA – observances
- ASANA – Postures
- PRANAYAMA – Breath control
- PRATYAHARA – Sense withdrawal
- DHARANA – concentration
- DHYANA – meditation
- SAMADHI – Bliss or Enlightenment
Through the incorporation of these eight elements, one can experience true transformation and reap many benefits.
7 benefits of yoga
Increased focus
There are so many things to focus on while practicing yoga. The pose, the engagement, and the breath to name only a few. It is difficult to have a good yoga session if you are distracted. This ability to focus on the present can be carried into your daily activities.
Additionally, many yoga poses involve inversion which promotes blood circulation. This increases oxygen to the brain and therefore increases presence and focus.
Practicing yoga essentially trains the area of your brain responsible for information processing (the cerebral cortex). Studies using MRI have been able to confirm this amazing benefit of yoga.
Stress reduction and better sleep
Okay, I’m cheating here. These are 2 benefits in this compilation of 7 benefits of yoga.
Practicing yoga helps your body release endorphins. This hormone promotes calm and happiness. Additionally, many poses in yoga involve releasing tension in your body. This helps lower stress pain that can accumulate in your shoulders, neck, and even hips.
The breathing techniques that are often incorporated into a yoga practice also help you focus on the present and calm your busy hamster brain. Lower stress and a greater ability to quiet down the thoughts in your head are great sleeping aids.
If you struggle with sleep, read this fantastic article for tons of tips to help you get the rest you need.
Increased mobility and flexibility
I believe it’s never too soon to start adopting habits that will help you age gracefully and comfortably.
The second most obvious aging sign (after aging skin that was not cared for properly) is bad mobility and flexibility. While these two are not the same, they are both:
- equally important
- tend to deteriorate with age
- can be drastically improved with regular yoga practice
I have personally seen tremendous improvement in both areas after I started practicing. My lack of flexibility was a joke in our family. While I still can’t do a full split, I have so much more range of motion. I move more freely without stiffness in the neck, and I rarely get any joint pains anymore.
Maintain muscles
Yoga is not just about stretching. Several yoga poses engage many muscle groups at the same time. The movements are often slow, controlled, and held for a moderate amount of time. Therefore, it provides a steady burn that will help you grow or maintain a healthy muscle mass.
Many yoga classes will even raise your heart rate and leave you in a serious sweat. Just string together several sun salutations matched to the rhythm of your breath if you are doubting me.
Improved digestion
This one is near and dear to my heart (thanks to IBS) and not very talked about.
Some breathing techniques incorporated in yoga can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is key to supporting gut health.
Additionally, many poses in yoga involve twisting the body. These twists put gentle pressure on the digestive system and can help promote healthy and regular digestion.
Increased body awareness
Probably my favorite of the 7 benefits of yoga is the increased body awareness.
The practice of yoga involves linking the breath to your movements. It helps you become more aware of what you are feeling, both physically and mentally. Yoga is about sensations and listening to your body. Our busy lives are counterintuitive to paying close attention to the cues we are receiving. The more you practice listening to what your body is “saying”, the better you will become at honoring what your needs are.
Improved balance
Many yoga poses are challenging for your balance. They require that you hold difficult postures for an extended period.
As we get older, the risk of falling not only increases, but the severity of the injury also does. Practicing yoga regularly will help you improve your balance and reduce your chances of damaging falls.
7-day yoga challenge
I am not a yoga instructor but simply a practitioner. Therefore, I am not qualified to record my tutorial and yoga practices. However, I have many favorite amazing online teachers that I have followed over the years.
To motivate you to get started and experience these fantastic benefits yourself, here is a recommended free 7-day yoga challenge with some of the best teachers.
| Yoga Class | Instructor | Class duration |
| 30-minute energizing power yoga | Briohny Smyth | 30 minutes |
| Hatha flow yoga for beginners | Brett Larkin | 30 minutes |
| Center day 1 | Adrienne | 30 minutes |
| Wind down restore sequence | Dylan Werner | 30 minutes |
| Get loved up yoga | Christa Janine | 60 minutes |
| Easy going yoga flow | Josh kramer | 45 minutes |
| Yoga open and free | Ashley Galvin | 60 minutes |
In conclusion
This list of 7 benefits of yoga is not exhaustive. I could easily have listed a dozen of benefits. However, these seven, for this stage of my life raise to the top and keep me practicing yoga on an almost daily basis.
If you were curious but not yet convinced, I hope this is the push you needed to give yoga a try.
Namaste
Cat xx