Why Should You Do Yoga?
At first, when you hear the word “yoga,” you want to think of a bunch of people sitting in rows with crossed legs, closed eyes, candles burning, incense wafting the dim-enclosed room, and palms facing up in mudra. Oh, and don’t forget the long “Om.”
Reality check: Yoga is a personal journey. There are many forms of yoga, from Iyengar (slow-paced but detailed style that is excellent for beginner students) to Bikram (heated at a high tempeture but great for all levels of practitioners).
Just like how we love certain kinds of foods, the style of yoga you connect with is a preference. You may really dislike one kind, think another kind is okay, and just absolutely love another! If you find the one you instantly love on the first try, you are lucky! But realistically, you may need to take a few styles to find the one that resonates with you. Your decision also can be based on how you connect with an instructor.
So, why should you do yoga? Did a doctor suggest it to you? Or did you notice your friend appeared to be happier and looked great? Maybe it is because you are just plain curious.
Here is a good health reason as to why you should do yoga: Stress. How many of you feel stressed at some point in time? Maybe stress is your middle name? Stress has a negative impact on our cortisol hormone levels. Higher level of cortisol in the bloodstream have shown opposing effects, from suppressed thyroid activity to increased abdominal fat. When we are less stressed and happier, our cortisol levels are healthy and our body metabolizes efficiently and we are less likely to get sick.
The next time you walk by a yoga studio (and you will, they are popping out of nowhere like Starbucks in the 90s when they were across the street from each other!), if it is open, walk in and ask for more information. More than likely, you will have more questions, so get their business card and call or email them later with those questions.
Yoga is growing quickly for a reason and I don’t anticipate it will go anywhere for a very long, long time (if ever, as it is said to be at least 5,000 years old!). Give it a try. Maybe bring a friend or a close family member – it is less scary and can definitely be more enjoyed with another person.
By the way, I love hearing people tell me how they came to yoga. I hope I get to hear your journey one day as well.
Namasté!