I'm always telling people that they should try yoga whenever they mention a problem. I try not to go off the deep end that yoga can fix everything, but the truth is that it does address a lot of common issues us modern day folks deal with due to our lifestyles. I know it helps me manage my weight, anxiety, knee problems and general grumpiness.
Unlike other forms of workout, in my opinion, yoga leaves you feeling elated afterwards. Through sports, working out and outdoorsy stuff I've experienced a lot of post exercising highs, but there is nothing quite like the peace you feel after a good yoga class. I think if everyone just gave one yoga class a chance they would love it! Even if you enter yoga in the most dower mood, I think you'll have a hard time holding onto that negativity through a practice.
So... lets give three cheers for yoga!
Greed is not very zen. I'm working on eliminating my lust for all of the things! Especially all of the yoga fashion that tempts me everyday. It is not easy when one of my jobs is to actually write about yoga fashion. I already have yoga clothes coming out of my ears, but I thought I would share some of my latest yoga fashion finds for you to enjoy. Perhaps you can indulge your greedy side for me, or you can just feel as lustful for these cute yoga fashion items as I do!
Left Click on the image to get details about where to get these items!
Psychology Today recently featured an interesting article called "Yoga: Changing the Brain's Stressful Habits". The writer, Alex Korb Ph.D., discusses his experience with yoga and how neuroscience fits into yoga. It turns out all the benefits of practicing yoga are not just new age hand waviness, but are backed up by science.
Korb is extremely effective at simplifying the complexity of neuroscience in ways that most readers can understand. Korb explains how the mind and work together in the following passage:
"The
fascinating thing about the mind-body interaction is that it works
both ways. For example, if you're stressed, your muscles will tense
(preparing to run away from a lion), and this will lead to more negative
thinking.
Relaxing those muscles, particularly the facial muscles, will push the brain in
the other direction, away from stress, and toward more relaxed thoughts.
Similarly, under stress, your breathing rate increases. Slowing down your
breathing pushes the brain away from the stress response, and again toward more
relaxed thinking."
By practicing yoga we learn to manage stress caused by physical poses. The hope is to have this lesson transcends to the rest of our lives too. When that stressful meeting comes up or little Johnny spills the milk, our reactions can be calm instead of stressed. Honestly, that meeting or cleaning up milk are small things, but unfortunately, we tend to blow things out of proportion. Or as the kids put it "have a cow". Having a cow too often leads to problem like heart attacks, strokes, depression and the list goes on.
I hate to say yoga or die, but there is no doubt in our desk-ridden, stressed out world yoga is a good thing. In yoga your body may be learning new ways to stretch, but it is more significant that your brain learns new ways to move.
