Happy Fri-YAY and first Friday of June! Summer is in full swing and it’s the perfect time add healthy lifestyle choices into your life. In May, I decided that I would start implementing something awesome into my weekly routine. I have been doing yoga on and off for the last few years, but never with any kind of consistency. I used to dance and do cheerleading in my high school days, so I am not stranger to stretching and yoga practices. Every week for the last month, I’ve been going to a yoga class at least 3 times a week (sometimes more). Let’s chat about it.
The Benefits of Adding Yoga to Your Weekly Routine
Yoga has a crazy amount of benefits, scientifically. Not only does it increase flexibility, but it also increases muscle tone, improved respiration, balances metabolism, weight loss, improves cardiovascular health, and protection from injury. And those are just the physical benefits. There are countless mental benefits as well.
The biggest benefits I’ve seen when adding yoga to my weekly routine are:
#1: Stress Management
Doing yoga the last month has done wonders for my ability to manage stress. I know that at LEAST 3 times a week, I get to take an hour to just breathe and let go of the things that are no longer serving me. I have found that I am more able to let things go, and focus on bettering myself and working on my goals with a clearer mind.
#2: Increased Concentration
Most of you know that I work from home, so I NEED to be able to concentrate. I have to be able to focus and get things done in an efficient time frame. When I have too many things I’m worried about, I don’t work as well as I could. After yoga, I feel more energetic and alert, and am able to sit down and concentrate for hours longer than I used to be able to.
#3: Increased Body Awareness
I am much more in tune with my body. This is huge for me. I suffered from back and neck pain, and most of that has pretty much gone away because I am understanding my body a lot more. I realize that I was ignoring a lot of the signals my body was giving me and now that I am more in tune with it, I can make little adjustments and my body is thanking me BIG TIME.
#4: Corrects Posture
This is a huge one for me because I have TERRIBLE posture and I sit leaned over at a desk for more hours than not. I have noticed a serious difference in how I stand and sit. Considering the only big change I’ve made in the last four weeks was yoga, I’m going to go ahead and give this one to yoga.
#5: Mood Booster
This one is bigbigbig. I noticed that I felt lighter and happier after yoga. The endorphins from exercising really helped me perk up during the morning. I am NOT a morning person, but after starting yoga, I think that I could say I am….kind of a morning person now.
#6: Improves Your Sleep
This one I had heard before but was super skeptical. However, I am now a believer. I have struggled with sleep for a long time. I have the worst time getting to sleep at night and often lay awake for hours before finally falling asleep. Recently, I’ve been falling asleep much faster and the best part is I STAY asleep (until my kitten licks my face so much I wake up).
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If you are in the St. Louis area (and I know lots of you are), I would HIGHLY recommend Namaste. This is by far the best yoga studio I have ever been to. The owners are fabulous, and the yoga instructors are amazing. I’ve loved every class I’ve been to (in particular, the hot yoga). Your first month is only $40, so sign up here!
Yoga is something that everyone can do at EVERY age and EVERY level. You don’t have to be a pro to go to a yoga class. You just have to go with an open mind. I am NOT the most flexible person in the room. I can’t hold all the poses. I have to modify things sometimes. But NOBODY judges you for not being the best. They accept you for WHERE YOU ARE AT. Everyone needs something like this in their lives, I promise.
Do you do yoga? What is your favorite class? Let me know in the comments below!
I TOTALLY agree about the stress part! I think it also helps you just be more accepting of yourself and others. Two of my doctors that I see (one for my thyroid, one for my lady bits haha) both highly encouraged me to practice yoga and even my husband said he noticed a difference in my mood. So crazy!
It is definitely crazy!! I didn’t used to give much stock to it but now I’m a believer! LOL
I’m pretty heavy so I’ve always been scared to try yoga.
I have never tried yoga but I have always wanted too! After seeing all the benefits, I dont see why I shouldn’t! Great post!
You definitely should! It has SO many other benefits, too, that were just too numerous for one post. I am amazed!
I’ve been trying to do yoga everyday. I feel so much better when I stick with it.
Me too! Beyond!!! I always feel a million times better!
Yoga is so good for your body and mind. It is great to stretch and also to relax and chill!
xo Jessica
http://www.whatsfordinneresq.com
I’ve been a certified yoga instructor for a few years and have been slacking on my practice and have noticed my sleep patterns changing. This is the swift kick I need to get back in the game!
Yes!! I want to become certified SO BADLY!!!
I love Yoga!! I miss taking classes though! They had offered them at my Barre Studio but the lady who did the classes left. So now I need to find a new place to go to! I found it helped me more awake, relaxed and alert.
I totally agree. I always feel more awake!
I love yoga! Right now I don’t have time to go to a class, but I do yoga from home every night before going to bed. It tends to relax me as I connect my mind and body together and I definitely sleep better!!
Sleeping better is huge!
I do love yoga, I go through phases of doing yoga consistently, or 3mths without. I really feel the difference when I dont continue.
I totally agree with #4!! My posture is always amazing when I stick to a yoga routine. When I stop I can feel it in my shoulders as I start to hunch at my desk.
Yes. 100%. I’ve been noticing that too!
When I was marathon training, I tried to incorporate yoga once a week. I don’t know why but I really have to push myself to do yoga. Once I do it (or after) I feel really good but it is such a struggle bus for me to do it!
This would definitely be good for sleep…my sleeping is all over the place sometimes!! Thanks for the great tips! xoxo
I LOVE yoga! Especially hot yoga. I suffer from anxiety, and it helps this greatly. I have gotten off of doing it consistently, but need to get back into doing it a few times a week. The benefits are amazing!
Hot yoga is by far my FAVORITE!! I love love love it!
I’ve never done yoga but have always wanted to give it a try! Happy Friday!
xo, Jessy | http://www.currentbliss.com
I love doing yoga! Such a great way to clear your head and get in an awesome workout.
I’ve been wanting to try Yoga for the longest time. I’m so jealous of how serene it looks and how calm everyone looks when they do it. I have terrible balance and that’s what has kept me from trying it yet lol.
I keep meaning to try yoga. I’m hoping I can go to a beginner’s class sometime soon. I could REALLY use the sleep help.
-Lauren
YES to all of this! I am a HUGE fan of yoga and do it during the week & on the weekends to help de-stress 🙂
We love YOGA! My kids join me in the fun! I’m so excited because this week starts yoga in our local park! Thanks for sharing!
I absolutely love yoga and its definitely a great way to relieve stress!
https://www.bunnybernice.com/single-post/2017/06/03/How-I-Feel-About-Turning-21
I love yoga! But I can’t do hot yoga! It’s actually something to be super cautious of if you have a history of anxiety or PTSD! It triggers an auto response in your nervous system that can bring on panic attacks. When I was a counselor we only had clients practice restorative and hatha since people don’t realizing the psychological triggers of many poses and styles of yoga.
I totally agree and try to do yoga as much as I can. Either in class or by myself (yes, that does work too) as it helps me with all of the above, but especially the sleeping part as I need all the help I can get regarding that. Thanks for reminding me of the importance of yoga which not only tends to your body, but your soul alike.
xoxo
Thomas
http://thomasfalkenstedt.com
I know Yoga helps a lot of people. I tried it, but I got the giggles and couldn’t take it seriously. Instead I read to calm myself.
I love yoga!! It’s a must when my Kids make my back ache. I love the poses that stretch out my hips and lower back the most. Pigeon pose, cobra, downward dog and baby pose are the best!
Pigeon is my FAVORITE!!!! I get so excited when I do it in class. LOL!
I tend to like pilates better than Yoga, but I’ve found Yoga classes are often easier to find at the gym. I need a lot of help with my posture and I think more awareness of my body would definitely help too! Great tips!
I hear so many positive things about yoga, but I have to be honest here, the first time I tried it I failed. Probably because I wasn’t in the right mindset. So, at some point, I want to try it again!
The fact that it leads to increased concentration is an added benefit that I wasn’t aware of. It definitely makes sense though, and I should try it more often! Thanks for the useful tips
I use hiking as a center and relaxation. I think it is a super viable alternative to yoga, especially if nature is in your soul. I am just not a fan of classes like yoga as I get a bit anxious doing stuff like that around other people.
I’m SO INTO IT. I feel you 100%. Stress management? YES. Necessary. Sign me up.
Coming Up Roses
My boyfriend and I have it planned to take a yoga class together once a month, but I want to start adding it to my schedule more often than that. I’ve seen the benefits for so many other people and I’d love to experience them myself!
I have really contemplating yoga lately not just because it’s a great workout but because it’s a stress reliever. I’m going to need to look for classes nerby – thank you for the recommendation 🙂
Xx
Iliana | http://www.sophitisticatedfashionista.com