Yoga is not just about doing, it’s about experiencing. Power lies in the elements beyond the poses- the sense of connection, awareness & union that comes from the complete practice

The physical poses (Asana) were developed to prepare the body to sit in meditation: a process of moving the body to strengthen it in order for it to remain comfortably still for a long period of time. The philosophy of awareness is what makes doing yoga more than merely stretching or gymnastics.

Even if you never touch your toes, gaining the flexibility, balance and whole body strength will improve your form, efficiency & power. Yoga’s approach to concentration & breath awareness will improve your mental focus & mental endurance

Stress management:

Yoga enables relaxation- the more relaxed you are the better you’ll be able to manage & recover from stresses. Constant physical mental & emotional stress overtaxes the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) & the adrenal glands. Yoga helps to engage the parasympathetic nervous system which allows you to relax, save energy & restore balance to the body. This helps you sleep better, recover faster & enjoy yourself.

Mindfulness:

The practice of yoga asana (poses) & pranayama (breath) is mental & spiritual. Yoga cultivates flexibility of the mind, the poses, breath exercises & meditation practices & encourage focus on the present moment. By being present we can find happiness in the here & now just as it happens. Staying aware of the present without feeling overwhelmed, aids a capacity to remain calm no matter what comes your way.

Balance:

Yoga confers balance. First there is the literal work of the balance poses which will strengthen,Â find your centre of gravity in different positions & hone proprioception. The poses also teach a more subtle awareness; the finer sense of how the body works as a unit. Your perspectives will change and you’ll get a fuller sense of your body & what it can do

Flexibility:

You probably think of yoga as primarily stretching. indeed flexibility is the part of yoga. Practising the postures will stretch tight muscles and encourage use of your full range of motion. Beyond physical flexibility Yoga cultivates flexibility of the mind. The poses, breath exercises & meditation practices all encourage focus on the present moment.

Strength:

Yoga works holistically to strengthen the body as a unit using bodyweight. Some poses are held static other sequences involve flowing from pose to pose. Practiced correctly with attention to alignment, Yoga confers joint stability, training the muscles & tendons to stabilise the joints which in turn helps the practitioner to avoid injuries. These postures help create whole-body functional strength & encourage greater awareness of the body.

Injury prevention and recovery:

A well rounded yoga practice will help bring the body into symmetrical alignment correcting flexibility & strength imbalances in the soft tissues. It can do wonders in addressing underlying imbalances & instability

(With Thanks to Sage Roundtree and Alexandra Desiato -˜Teaching Yoga beyond the Poses & The athletes guide to Yoga for providing or inspiring the content for this page )

Why do Yoga?