Three Reasons to Do Yoga

OK, so you purchased a yoga mat. You had good intentionswhen you were in the store, but the mat is currently rolled up and in the closet. What do you do now?

People are drawn to practice yoga for many reasons. Some people practice yoga for the same reasons I practice. I need exercise that nourishes the body and the soul. Walking or jogging give me time to experience nature, but my yoga practice does something that brisk or rigorous exercise cannot accomplish: it gives me peace of mind. The following article will list three reasons why it is time for you to spend more time on your mat.

Reason One: It Feels Great.

The first reason for doing yoga? It feels great. Yoga does not require the practitioner to twist his or her body into a human pretzel. You can engage in simple poses like dog pose or reclined leg stretch and still stretch your body. As long as you are mindful of the breath while you are stretching, you are still practicing yoga.

As you become more acquainted with your practice, you will begin to try more challenging poses. Remember, however, that yoga should always feel good. Never push your body beyond its limits and be mindful of what your body is trying to tell you. If you are not breathing easily, you are pushing yourself too far. Ease up and let the breath come naturally.

Reason Two: You Learn to Relax and Accept Things For What They Really Are.

When you first begin to practice yoga, you will begin to learn your personal limitations. Our normal lifestyles encourage us to reach perfection. While it is important to set goals and to achieve them, we must learn to have patience. Yoga will teach you patience. Yoga will also teach you to accept the present moment if your idea of perfection is elusive and never achieved.

Trust me, your first experience with yoga will be quite humbling because we often think our bodies are more flexible or stronger than they really are. If you can not touch your toes the first time that you try a forward bend, do not become frustrated. All good things come to the person who waits. If your hands only reach your shins or ankles, remember that this is just where you are at this present moment. Tomorrow's practice may bring new and better things. Just breath and enjoy the moment.

Reason Three: Yoga Helps You Get to Know the Real You.

Have you ever lost touch with the real you? I have, and the experience was both scary and confusing.

We play many roles in our daily lives. Sometimes the roles become too stressful and we loose touch with the inner self. At these times in life, we must learn to slow down and breathe. Yoga can help us achieve this state. I have found many answers on the yoga mat. Perhaps the combination of intense focus and cleansing breath helps to clean out the "junk" that I have stored inside of me. With a clear mind, I can think clearly and put my inner desires into perspective.

There you have it. Three reasons for you to pull the mat out of the closet and find a local class. There are some wonderful instructors waiting to help you find peace and help you stretch and strenghthen your body at the same time.