Yoga benefits

I recently returned from a trip to Baja California where I had the opportunity to preview a sustainable living offering. Each morning I begrudgingly exited my tent and joined my colleagues for an outdoor yoga session where we were greeted by the sun rising over the Sea of Cortez. While the sunrise itself was a spiritual and transformative experience, I soon discovered that the practice of yoga had much to offer as well.

Let me start by saying that I am hardly a yogi or even a regular yoga practitioner. In fact, my yoga experience to date has been limited to hot yoga which I consider vigorous exercise rather than a meditative or spiritual endeavor. So you can probably imagine my reaction to the slow, gentle yoga movements offered by our yoga instructor. “Sway with the wind and gradually make figure eights with your arms,” said the instructor. “Is this all we’re going to do?”, I asked myself. This is hardly a workout. For the next several minutes, I experienced moments of mild frustration, irritation and even thoughts that I should have stayed in bed for an extra hour instead of coming to class.

About 15 minutes into the session, my mind started to quiet down. I could feel my body stretching (not straining) and I marveled at the impact my breathing was having on my overall flexibility. This was becoming kind of fun and even somewhat interesting. I began to focus my attention on the tension in my neck and shoulders which I attributed to the soft pillow I had slept on the night before. As instructed, I breathed into these areas of tightness and discomfort. Miraculously, the muscles seemed to loosen; my shoulders were no longer touching my ears and I was breathing deeply without significant discomfort.

In recounting this experience, I am reminded that this was all happening in the midst of a class of 8-10 students. Mind you, my normal inclination in such situations is to compare myself to others and even to be somewhat competitive. To my surprise, these feelings were nowhere to be found. It was as if I were the only one in the class that morning. Let me correct that statement. While I wasn’t aware of the physical presence of the other students, I could definitely feel their kind, loving and encouraging energy. I felt held and supported as I inhaled deeply, standing on one foot with my arms extended to the sky. Did I actually perform these moves without falling flat on my face?

With each successive day, I found greater joy and connection through the yoga practice. I felt more connected to myself, my colleagues and to my surroundings. My senses seemed heightened and my energy was flowing freely. For a practice that started out as “hardly a workout”, I realized that yoga was far more than a physical practice or exercise.

Upon returning to Santa Fe, I took some time to educate myself on the breadth of benefits associated with the practice of yoga. For those of you whose curiosity I piqued with my story, maybe the following list of benefits will push you to give yoga a try.

• Lowers cortisol levels
• Increases flexibility
• Enhances memory
• Aids in sleeping more deeply
• Increases muscle strength and tone
• Improves respiration, energy and vitality
• Helps maintain a balanced metabolism
• Weight reduction
• Cardio and circulatory health
• Improved athletic performance
• Protection from injury
• Increases blood flow and aids circulation
• Boosts immunity
• Increases self-esteem
• Prevents digestive problems
• Improves balance
• Helps with focus and concentration
• Relieves depression
• Improves metabolism
• Eases asthma symptoms
• Promotes connection to self and others