Ready to roll out your yoga mat to discover the combination of mental and physical exercises that have hooked yoga practitioners worldwide for thousands of years? You don't have to be a trained yogi to reap the many benefits yoga offers. Whether you're fit or overweight, old or young, yoga has the power to strengthen the body and calm your mind.
If you're a beginner, don't be intimidated by fancy yoga terminology, complex poses, and complicated tutorials. Millions of people worldwide have turned to yoga for a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life, and you can too. Follow these tips to slowly and gradually incorporate the discipline into your life.
Start with Acceptance
To succeed in anything in life, you first need to embrace acceptance. Yoga, denoting 'union' in Sanskrit, teaches us to accept yoga as more than just a form of exercise.
When you practice yoga, there must be no separation between your present physical and mental state. Let go of all the expectations regarding how things should be.
The no-wistful thinking and no whining mindset can take a while to cultivate. But with patience and dedication, you'll reach a point where you'll be able to appreciate your circumstances, body, and mind, exactly as they are in the moment, full-heartedly.
Respect Your Body's Limitations
Don't push your body to do anything that feels wrong or dangerous to your gut. Practice the non-harm Ahimsa to be aware of the contraindications relevant to your specific circumstances.
Some poses are not recommended with certain injuries, while others should be avoided during menstruation, pregnancy, and so on. This doesn't mean you avoid yoga in these situations. Just adapt your practice to include asanas beneficial for your circumstances.
Stop Comparing Your Progress with Others
To check how far you've come, look inwards. You will find many people on social media who are more experienced and more flexible than you are. It may be fashionable to share the progress with others, but don't take it as a competition.
Learn to appreciate the subtle progress you make at your own pace. Your goal should be to enhance the healing awareness of your mind, body, and spirit. Gratitude is the key to making your expectations vanish.
Understand the Core of Yoga
Yoga isn't only about contouring the muscles or flexibly turning your spine into fancy shapes. It's about finding inner strength through mediation and creating freedom in the body with simple yoga poses.
Wear Comfortable Clothing
Yoga requires you to stretch your body in various directions. Wear something that will not restrict your movement while comfortably allowing you to bend your body and turn it upside down. Stretch fit gear saves you from exposing or wriggling more than you wish while making it easy to practice several poses.
Modify Poses
The perfect posture you see on YouTube or in a yoga class may be a long way from what your body can currently achieve. Adapt postures and ease your body to gradually reach the ideal posture. Use bolsters, blocks, belts, and other yoga props to loosen those tight muscles safely. Yoga props help maintain balance and reduce strains that could lead to injuries.
Be Consistent
Little and often is more effective than rare and long yoga sessions. Choose poses that have the most positive effect on your mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Being regular will help reap more benefits than straining your body every once in a while with extensively draining sessions.
When your body feels familiar and comfortable with the process, it gradually becomes aware and flexible, allowing you to take your yoga practice to new heights.
If you have any queries, feel free to comment below or reach out to experts at Wellness on Demand. We regularly post health and fitness blogs and health and fitness podcasts you can incorporate into your daily routine to manifest your body goals into reality.
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