So you decide to join a local yoga class. You think maybe it will help you become more flexible or perhaps help you to manage stress and feel more relaxed in daily life. Yoga will do these things. But guess what? It will also do a LOT more!
Many people start yoga for a specific reason or with a focused goal in mind. However, yoga is a multifaceted practice. It is a practice that has a holistic approach and support physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. This means that the benefits of yoga are diverse and long lasting. Even if you have been practising yoga for a decade, the benefits, realisations and positive effects continue to expand and diversify.
So, what are 8 things that happen when you start doing yoga that you may not be aware of?! Let’s explore them.
Become part of a community
While you may have an idea that joining a yoga studio or starting classes for the first time is going to be scary and intimidating- think again! You’ll likely find that people from all walks of life enjoy yoga and not only that, people who do yoga tend to be incredibly kind and friendly people. Yoga studios are a great place to meet new like-minded people and you’’ discover a whole new community that you can spend quality time with both on and off the mat.
You’ll become more patient
Sitting in peak hour traffic and realise you’re not seething or cursing?! Well, yoga teaches us to be more accepting of things just as they are. On the mat, we learn to accept how our body is in a pose on that day, there’s no point trying to push it or wish it was another way, that misses the point and benefits of yoga. Off the mat, you start to see that getting worked up about things out of your control is pointless, meaning you can relax and feel ok about allowing things to unfold in their own time.
You’ll start seeing the cup half full
Just as yoga teaches us to accept things as they are, it also inspires us to look on the bright side. Yoga reminds us that life is a journey and that magic exists in each moment when you take time to notice. In slowing down and practising greater awareness, it’s easy to become more conscious of all that you have in your life. Yoga naturally lowers stress and boosts mood, so just like you wont get hot and bothered in peak hour traffic, you’ll also likely stop dwelling on the small stuff and instead look around at what is working, rather than what’s not.
You’ll have more sustained energy
While it may feel hard at first to drag yourself off the couch and to the yoga studio, you’ll quickly find yourself eager to get there as you feel the chances on your own energy levels. Yoga both relaxes you and also energises you. Essentially, it helps you to find greater balance. For some, that may mean stepping off the mouse wheel and slowing down a little which in turn preserves your energy levels. Or, it may inspire a ‘get up and go’ in you and the practice of yoga will inspire new energy within you.
You’ll start to notice the little things
There’s such a thing as a ‘yoga high’ that you tend to feel after yoga. You may notice yourself coming out of class and pausing to quite literally smell the roses, or you may take the detour on the drive home to watch the sunset. Yoga teaches us that the small things in life that we often disregard can bring great joy. On the mat, just as we come to be grateful for our bodies just as they are, so too do we become more grateful for all the things we have in life.
You’ll make healthier choices
Yoga has a magical way of helping you to make healthier choices in all areas of your life. As you become aware of how everything is connected and you become more intune to how you feel on mat when you practice, you become more aware of how other choices affect your life. Maybe this means letting go or cutting down on sugar, opting for tea in the afternoon over coffee, making time for that post work walk or getting to bed earlier in the evening. Yoga helps us to listen to our body which is the very best way we can take care of it.
You’ll become more compassionate with strangers
Even if you only do yoga for the physical benefits, its hard not to start to hear and embody the more philosophical aspects of the practice. Yoga teaches us ahimsa- or ‘do no harm.’ It reminds us that we are all on this journey side by side and its easy to show compassion and kindness to others. At first, that may look like shuffling your mat over an inch or two to let another person into the studio. Then, off the mat, maybe it means letting someone in front of you in line, offering a co-worked a ride to work, or doing some grocery shopping for a neighbour. Maybe its as simple as smiling to someone you walk past or saying an honest greeting to your barista. Yoga reminds us that the world is a better place when we can be kind to one another.
Feeling inspired?!
Whether you’re brand new to yoga or have been practicing yoga for many years, you’ll love the yoga classes on offer at The Palm Tree House. Yoga is included in all retreats, but if you’re looking for a real yoga immersion in Bali, opt for the Yoga and Spa package and you’ll enjoy a blissful week with plenty of yoga, meditation, spa pampering as well as healthy food, cultural activities and adventures around beautiful Bali. Contact us here for to find out about availability.
