The Benefits of Yoga – A Beginner Yogi Perspective

Although my fitness journey began over 15 years ago, I only started practicing yoga the beginning of this year. So, I am still a novice who has a not even scratched the surface of its deeper philosophy and styles. I have a LOT to learn. But, after practicing hot yoga (power vinyasa flow) for a short ten months, I have definitely experienced benefits that have been life changing for me.

Here are some initial insights and benefits that I’ve gained as a beginner yogi.

Staying in the moment. This was the hardest for me to do at first. Like most people, my mind is always racing with what I am working on and what I need to do. It can be mentally exhausting at times. But when practicing yoga, you leave all of that outside of your mat and focus on the present. When thoughts do creep back in (and they will), you develop an awareness to bring yourself back to the here and now. At the end, you feel refreshed and a sense of calm.

Knowing my edge and pushing my limits. Yoga is what you make of it. Each pose presents its own challenge in terms of difficulty, flexibility, and strength needed. Therefore, when approaching or holding each pose, I’ve developed a sense of what is comfortable and challenging for me. With that knowledge, I’m able to push myself a bit further and out of my comfort zone. As a result, I feel myself getting stronger and growing in my practice.

Enjoying the challenge. Yoga is a process! I am proud of how much I’ve improved over the months and look forward to working on the poses that need tweaking or have not yet mastered. (I still cannot hold crow pose without face planting!) It’s evolving and I am determined. There will always be room for improvement, which is an aspect that I love. It allows me to keep growing.

Breathing. Throughout my practice, I’ve developed a cycle of breath that becomes a center of focus and allows me to progress through the postures and hold poses. A focus on breathing fuels the body and brings a sense of calm.

Many of these aspects have flowed over into other areas of my life as well. Additionally, I’m developing lean muscles, a stronger core, and improved flexibility too. Bonus!! I’m so excited that I found another challenging activity to incorporate into my fitness regimen. I hope to be able to practice and continue learning for many years to come.

If you are interested in trying yoga, but a bit hesitant about dropping in on a class, check out these videos. Maybe you will become a yogi too! Namaste.

– Wishing you continued success in your fitness journey