Yoga for Your Body and Soul

Yoga studios seem to be the Starbucks of fitness with new studios popping up in every town on nearly every corner. As well, yoga classes are one of the basic offerings at most gyms.
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Whether you can barely touch your toes, think pranayama is a new organic gluten-free dessert, or frequently sweat it out in a hot yoga class, the benefits yoga are far reaching. From head to toe, body to soul, Bhastrika breathing to kumbhaka, yoga offers us strength, discipline, awareness, flexibility, patience, striving, balance and so much more.  

Over the years I have taken numerous yoga classes, dropped out for a while, and recommitted to my practice when I found my way back. Starting again isn't easy, but I was once reminded by one of my teachers (and my body) that my body retains memory for the poses. More surprising to me, it craves them. 

Many times I struggled with the breathwork part of the classes and wondered, "Why do they do this?" Over time, my ability to breath deeply and healthily, feel calm and centered using my breath, and expand my lung capacity have given me the answer to that question.

If you have never tried Restorative Yoga, I highly recommend it! After 60-90 minutes of resting in these extremely simple poses, I was shocked to wake up pain free the morning after my very first class! No, I don't have any particular issues with pain, but those little aches and daily accumulation of stress-turned-inward simply dissolved.

Instead of Starbucks, perhaps this fall you wander into your local yoga studio, pull up a mat, and warm your body with some poses and breathwork. And since you've skipped the caffeine, just try not to fall asleep during Savasana!

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