Yoga: Namaste in Good Health

Get Your Ommmm On!

I started doing yoga several years ago after being invited by friends. I had been recently widowed and downsized our home. Naturally, I was feeling a lot of anxiety and stress. I never thought of myself as much of a yoga person. I’m more of a gym and outdoor sports person, but I thought I would try it. 

They offer yoga classes at my development, so I signed up and started taking classes once a week. Initially, I was intimidated as I did not know the downward dog from cat-cow from pigeon pose (and why there are so many yoga poses named after animals). HaveUHeard that most theories revolve around the idea that ancient yogis mimicked what they saw around them. It appears that the ancient yogis found imitating animals and nature to be an enlightening experience for both the body and mind (think tree pose, mountain pose, and wheel pose). It was also believed that yogi masters modeled their practices after the animals they observed, hoping to balance their emotions and stress patterns.

I admit I struggled at first, but I was hooked once I got over my fear of doing the poses wrong and concentrated on my breathing and doing the poses to the best of my physical ability. My daughters also love it. They beat me to the yoga mat, having caught the “namaste bug” during their college days. My younger daughter needed an elective one semester and even took it as a class.

Keeping Stress at Bay 

There’s a reason the practice of yoga is over 5000 years old. It has been proven to alleviate stress. Honestly, who doesn’t have to manage stress at some point? Research has shown that yogis enjoyed significantly reduced stress levels within seven weeks of regular practice. Students saw their academic performance increase, and adults had more focus at work.  This, in turn, also may lead to more confidence. Additional benefits are greater clarity of mind and a sense of peace, even in the face of stressors. 

Not only is it good for your emotional well-being, but it’s also great for your physical health. And it’s a practice that almost anyone can do, from gym rats to future former couch potatoes.  It strengthens one’s core, tones muscles while also making them limber, and stretches out the contortions that slouching at our desks or over our cell phones brings to bear on our bodies daily. Even better, there is plenty of yoga to choose from virtually and in person.

Finding a yogi that resonates with you makes a huge difference. I liked our instructor, but eventually, she left, and I had difficulty relating to the new instructor. I’m happy to say the original instructor has returned, so I can retake her classes as it is done outside, with a limit on the number of people.

Yoga with Adriene

I also practice Yoga with Adriene on YouTube. She kicks off each year with a 30-day free yoga journey. The classes are about 25 minutes, which is the perfect amount of time for me in the mornings.  She guides practices for all abilities, so it is easy to find one suitable for your preferences.

Both of my daughters also take online yoga classes. One of my daughters likes Yoga Joint.

You can sign up for 30 days of online classes for free. My other daughter also does Yoga with Adriene and likes Popsugar Yoga workouts on YouTube. So many great yoga instructors have switched to virtual classes, so it is fairly easy to find a class.

The one challenge I have had is that sometimes my hands and feet will slip on the mat; I like the Manduka yoga mat towel, which helps make my mat a little more slip-resistant. I also love these great designs for yoga towels from Society6.

Check my blog on Home Workouts With My Daughters for other yoga recommendations, from mats and blacks to yoga outfits.

Namaste  🙏 🕉

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