In honour of International Yoga Day, we got all reflective about why exactly we couldn’t live without yoga in our lives.
If you still haven’t tried yoga, here are 7 reasons you need to start.
1. You’ll Look Better.
Anyone who tells you that yoga isn’t a workout obviously hasn’t done a rigorous flow class. If a long, lean body is what you’re after, you may want to check out your nearest yoga studio.
2. You’ll Have a Better Night’s Sleep.
If you’re lacking when it comes to Zs, yoga can actually help you get a better sleep. Incorporating certain sequences of poses into your pre-bedtime routine can help you drift off to sleep quicker, leading to a better slumber once you hit the sheets.
3. It Will Make You Mentally Stronger.
Any sort of exercise makes you feel better mentally – you already know that by now. But yoga is designed to help you clear your mind and live in the moment, helping to reduce stress and improve your mental health.
4. It Will Make You Physically Stronger.
Not only will you look better, you’ll be physically stronger too. Yoga poses use every muscle in the body, helping to increase your overall strength throughout.
5. It Will Improve Your Circulation.
Especially for the perpetually cold set of humans, yoga can work wonders on your circulation (which is especially needed with our Canadian winters). Certain poses move oxygenated blood to the body’s cells.
6. It’s a Time to Disconnect and Focus.
Yoga class marks a time when you can completely disconnect from technology (don’t even try to bring your phone into class) and focus on nothing but yourself and your practice, free of the stresses and distractions of the outside world.
7. It Will Help Your Anxiety.
Yoga will help to control your anxiety, putting you in a better mood overall. A 2010 study found that practicing yoga just three times a week resulted in an increase in chemicals in the brain that help battle anxiety and depression.
Don’t be intimidated to try out a class, either. The yoga room is a judgement-free zone, and most general classes cater to all levels. You may not be able to perfect that headstand quite yet, but you need to start somewhere, right?
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