Here are just a few of the innumerable benefits you will receive from just 30 minutes of Yoga a day:
- Increased energy and vitality
It's a common mistake to think you are "too tired to practice Yoga". If you find yourself thinking this way, try to remember that it's the practice of Yoga that
gives you energy not the other way around. If you get stuck in waiting till you have the energy to practice, you may never find it. Try committing to 30 minutes a day at least 5 days out of the week and see what happens. Yoga gives us the opportunity to remove blockages of built up tension, so that our energy called
prana (life-force), can flow more freely throughout the body. Many things contribute to built up tension or "knots" in our bodies that obstruct the prana from flowing freely. Some examples of this would be sitting for extended periods in the car, couch or office, repetitive exercise only involving targeted muscle groups, nervousness or fear, repetitive movement in the workplace, etc. The combination of breath and
asana (sanskrit for posture) will allow oxygen-rich blood and nutrients to reach these areas that have been shut down or numb. Instead of feeling lethargic and sore, you will feel motivated and invigorated! During and after even one moderate to vigorous yoga session, you will feel a significant improvement in your energy and vitality. Try it!
- Improved emotional stability
We don't only have physical "knots" that we have to attend to, we have stuck places emotionally and mentally speaking as well. We have habit-forming thought patterns that we need to be conscious of so that we can create new and liberated pathways of thought. For example, we may tell ourselves that we are not flexible enough to ever make a good Yoga teacher every time we try to get into pigeon pose. That as a result, can lower our confidence. Perhaps we get angry every time we get to class late because we didn't get our favorite spot in class near the door. The cool thing about Yoga is that we are constantly reminded over and over again to pay attention to our breath. What this does is allow us to concentrate on our physical sensations along with our breath, something different than what is bothering us, so that our thoughts don't lead to anxiety and negative moods. Tests have indicated that Yoga practice leads to increased Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, (GABA)-ergic activity, which contributes to an individual's ability to manage stressful situations.
- Improved memory and concentration
There is an aspect of Yoga practice called
Dharana. Dharana is a sanskrit term that is defined as "unbending concentration of the mind". This is a very effective tool that we can not only use during our yoga practice on the mat, but something we can incorporate into our every day activities. This is the practice of focusing on one object without allowing your mind to wander off to your worries, ideas, plans for the rest of your day, etc. The idea is that we function more optimally and experience less stress when our minds are more at peace, which requires your mind to be focused and uninterrupted by internal or external distractions. This is a technique that must be cultivated in order to see it's positive impact. Just like we need to exercise the body to see results, we should take the time to exercise the mind.
- More positive outlook on your self and life in general
Yoga incorporates the practices of reflection, gratitude, relaxation, body-mind connection, spiritual awareness, all of which lead to positive mood-states. Yoga releases toxins from both your body and mind, and in that way has a powerful cleansing effect. Many of our traumas get lodged into our muscles as stuck energy. As we practice the asanas, we allow these lodged traumas to be healed through mindful stretching with breath. As you bring nourishing oxygenated blood flow to the targeted tension, the lodged energy will be released and healing will occur. You will find yourself feeling lighter and less burdened by negative experiences of the past. Focusing inward without judgement will give you the opportunity to practice self-acceptance which will then lead to an increase in confidence and self-esteem. When you cultivate your self-esteem and confidence, your everyday experiences are driven by positive motivations, with less focus being placed on your fears. Your external environment feels more friendly and less threatening.
- Increased self awareness and self-control
You will find that with a regular yoga practice, you start to become much more aware of how you hold yourself when you are sitting, standing, or interacting with others. Our posture is directly related to our self-confidence. In yoga, you are working with your alignment, your confidence, and your ability to focus and manage stress. Each one of these aspects of yoga practice contributes to enhanced self-awareness and self-control. Each and every time you come to your mat is another opportunity to practice self-awareness in simply being with your experience fully and whole-heartedly without judgement. The subtle shifts you make, no matter how slowly they occur, have a tremendous impact on your posture and self-confidence. The more aware of your self that you are, the more in control you feel. This relates to being in control of the direction you are moving in life. Yoga is unique in that you use the breath to bridge the mind and body. With more of a mind-body connectedness, we feel less fragmented and instead, more connected internally and externally. Yoga helps us become clear and insightful into our relationships with others and in our daily experiences.
The next time you are approached with the opportunity to take a Yoga class, reconsider any judgements or hesitations you may have, and give it a try! Don't just try one class. Explore various teachers and various styles until you find one that resonates with you. Stick with this for a good month or two, and by then you will be hooked! Once your body starts opening up and detoxing, you will quickly find yourself craving more.
"It is so, so simple: We get what we give. If we respect our bodies, they will be our vessels for transformation." -Baron Baptiste
~Namaste
Hummus is a chickpea based spread that originates from the Middle East. Hummus usually consists of chickpeas (also referred to as garbanzo beans), tahini, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic. Hummus is extremely high in nutritional content. I want to mention some of these amazing nutritional benefits you can get by incorporating hummus into your meal plans or lunch menu. Hummus is high in fiber and protein which contributes to the feeling of satisfaction that comes from a serving of hummus. Adding more fiber to your diet is an easy way to cut cholesterol, manage blood sugar, alleviate symptoms of IBS, and lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease. There are compounds in the chickpeas as well as the tahini that help to maintain youthful and healthy looking skin. The molybdenum detoxes your skin by removing sulfites. Sulfites are food preservatives that can cause wrinkles. It's also been proven by several modern studies that tahini also has anti-aging qualities. Tahini, one of the main ingredients, is a paste made from ground up sesame seeds. Sesame seeds are a good source of an amino acid methionine. Methionine helps to detoxify the liver as well as help the body absorb other amino acids. Tahini contains a handful of B vitamins which are crucial to healthy cell growth and division, as well as supporting a healthy metabolism and boosting your immune system. Tahini is also very high in calcium, which of course we need to maintain strong bones and muscles. Calcium also helps the nervous system function more optimally by assisting the nerves in sending messages between the brain all of the body parts. Here is my recipe for Hummus:
