“Most people ask only one thing of their body: that it does not cause them problems. They consider themselves healthy if they do not suffer from illness or pain, without being aware of the imbalances in their bodies and minds that ultimately lead to illness. Yoga has a triple effect on health. It keeps healthy people healthy, prevents the development of disease and activates healing.
But disease is not just a physical phenomenon. Anything that disturbs your spiritual life and practice is an evil and will eventually manifest as disease. Because most modern men have separated their minds from their bodies and banished their souls from their daily lives, they forget that the three components of their being (body, mind, and soul) are, for their good health, as intimately connected as the fibers of their muscles.”- B.K.S. Iyengar
And in summary… Some five good reasons to start yoga.
I enjoy the present moment and let go. Practicing yoga helps me to be present, here and now: by concentrating on my breathing and listening to my sensations, I let go of the thoughts that are bothering me. After a yoga session, I feel good, energized and relaxed. I’ve reset my mind to zero!
“Tilt the pelvis forward while contracting the glutes, shoulder blades down, bring the tailbone toward the floor, hands stay engaged”… the first few yoga sessions often feel like anatomy classes. Once I mastered these basics of the human body, I moved on to the next step: coordinating the movements. Moving gracefully, finding my balance on one leg, on my hands, and even on my forearms, letting my breath guide me… My body has become progressively more supple and toned, which helps to heal the everyday aches and pains (back pain, knee pain, stomach pain, etc.). It is also a good complement to the practice of other sports.
When I dare to do certain postures that I thought were unattainable, or when I agree to remain calm in meditation, I become aware of all the physical sensations, emotions and thoughts that run through me. What am I doing with them? Where do I stand? Yoga puts me in front of myself, I question myself without judging myself, I accept and I move forward.
Yoga has positive effects in everyday life. A good yoga session calms me, puts me in a good mood and makes me feel great. These positive effects are also felt outside of the mat and the yoga studio, and spread into my daily life: I am more confident, more focused, more in tune with myself and others, and more open to change. I sleep better, I eat better, I feel more balanced!
Yoga is not an exclusive method reserved for certain people. I sometimes hear people say, “I can’t do yoga because: it’s too expensive/it’s a baba cool thing/I’m not flexible/I’m too old.” In fact, yoga can work for anyone, regardless of age or physical condition. And in cases where you can’t move much, you can at least breathe
And to illustrate the POWER of yoga….
the little ending joke, I love it.
Caution sensitive souls to avoid
