Yoga

‘Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.’

The Bhagavad Gita

Last, but certainly not least; yoga. 

You will like this ‘small thing’ as it is one of the most immediate reward-giving activities you can implement.

There are a lot of types of yoga. I practise Hatha yoga which I am referring to in this section.

My solutions to the excuses you (might) come up with:

‘Okay…that’s all good and well, but…’

1)     ‘I don’t have the time and place to practise.’

The great thing about yoga is that you can start with just 5 minutes a day. There are plenty of poses you can do in that amount of time to ease you into it. Take it slow and steady. You do not need a fancy studio or space to practise; anywhere will do! I practise in my room. If you are severely limited in space, head to a local park. If that isn’t possible, practise yoga whilst performing other day-to-day activities. Waiting for your 3-minute noodles to heat up? Do some wrist circles. Standing in line at the bank? Do some neck rolls and weird out the people around you. Waiting in a doctor’s office? Do some lion’s breath to scare the other people in the waiting room. (Added bonus: they may get so disturbed that they leave and you get bumped up a few places!)

2)     ‘I can’t afford it.’

Fortunately, there are some kind strangers that have spent their time providing free yoga videos online. If you struggle with fast access to the internet, you can find pictured poses online to create your own practice. Make it personal!

3)     ‘I’m not flexible.’

Yoga isn’t about being or aiming to be flexible. It traditionally is about the mind. However, new takes on yoga have promoted the physical benefits (which are also great). In this case, remember that just as you lift weights to strengthen your muscles, you practise yoga to allow for more flexibility. It’s a practice, so it requires practise. Go only as far as your body allows you, and gradually, you will feel more flexible. It’s a slow process, but it is incredibly rewarding. 

4)     ‘It feels too feminine.’

Looking after your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual self is NOT a feminine act. In the West, yoga is often advertised with Caucasian women in activewear, but keep in mind that yoga has been practised for thousands of years in the East (by both men and women).  

The benefits

Mental:

– Presence: yoga techniques encourage bringing your mind to the present moment, and detaching from the past and the anticipation of the future –> relieves anxious and depressive thoughts.

– Acceptance of body: develops a mind-body connection, and an acceptance of your body –> provides self-confidence, helps with self-esteem issues.

– Provides tools: yoga is a physical manifestation of change; it shows you the gradual improvements of your body and mind. It teaches discipline and commitment, which will assist with other aspects of your life.

– Awareness of your emotions and thoughts: yoga connects you to your mind and helps to bring certain thoughts and problems to the surface –> key for depression management.

– Teaches attention and focus: it slows life down by paying keen attention to your body (even to muscle groups you never knew existed). For example, standing seems simple. However, the consciousness brought by yoga will bring awareness to weight distribution, places of tension, places of support, etc.   

– Appreciation for the body: yoga helps you become aware of how we move and how the different parts of our body interact together. It brings a new level to everything you do.

Physical:

– Pairs well with the gym: yoga is a great warm-up and warm-down for the gym by stretching out the muscles you are targeting for that day. For example, if I am doing a leg day, I’ll practise poses that focus on the legs and lower back.

– Provides a light workout: despite its ‘chilled’ nature, yoga can get your heart going to provide a low-key cardio, and strengthens and tones all your muscle groups. Cardiovascular health is incredibly important for a healthy body. Strong muscles keep us young in our older years and can prevent conditions like back pain and arthritis. You get to choose your intensity. If you are feeling tired, go for a calm yoga practise and still reap the benefits.

– It feels good: releases the ‘feel-good’ chemicals in your brain –> a handy trick with depression.

– More effective breathing: focuses on deeper and fuller breaths –> assists with anxiety.

– Stress reliever: yoga gets the endorphins going and focuses on breathing to help ground you –> helps with anxiety and depression.

– Improves balance: developing your balance isn’t only a neat party trick, it will assist you for later on in life when it becomes harder to stand and walk. 

– Superman posture: poor posture can lead to back and neck pain, spine damage, and joint problems. Yoga helps to improve your posture.

– Happy joints: they get to be free and use their full motion range when you practise yoga, preventing a whole range of health problems. It also strengthens the muscles around the joints, which reduces pressure on the joints. 

– Helps to increase blood flow to organs: improves circulation and gets more oxygen to the cells, which keeps them happy, healthy, and functioning better.

My Story

I first tried yoga when I was staying at my great-Auntie and -Uncle’s house in India. I never knew how old they were because they moved as freely as I did. When I realised their age, I was amazed at how active and flexible they were. I felt ashamed.

They did early yoga sessions; I’m talking before the sun came out. When sitting for the first practice, my auntie told me about all the benefits she obtained from it. As this was during my peak depression, I was reluctant to obscure ideas. However, I listened respectfully and did what she said without ever intending to follow through on it. To be honest, I was just enjoying stretching out my body.

I didn’t think about yoga for months until my brother told me about an instructor on YouTube called Adriene. I tried a session and it felt incredible. The instructor used a compassionate approach, in simple language, and with variations for different levels. It was easy to practise because it felt good, and she made it entertaining. She also paired it with mental health, which helped me feel emotionally well. I immediately committed to a programme lasting 30 days and felt the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits each and every day. Of course, there were days that it was hard to wake up 20 minutes earlier to practise, but the sacrifice always ended up being worth it.

Over 5 years later, I cannot go a day without yoga. It grounds me physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and prepares me for the day’s challenges.