5 Reasons I Love Yoga

When it comes to my fitness routine, depending on how busy my week looks, I plan my workouts in advance on the weekends. I like to mix it up quite a bit and I do strength training at the gym, take spinning classes, go for a run, take dance classes and go hiking depending on the weather outside and how much time I have each day. But the one thing I do not skip is my Yoga practice!

I do Yoga once or twice a week and I have to be honest, I do it more for my mind than my body! For the longest time I didn’t even know how complimentary Yoga was to the rest of my fitness routine and I did it purely because I always felt so calm and focused when I came out of my yoga class. But the truth it that Yoga does more for your body than you can imagine!

Here are 5 reasons why I love Yoga:

1.Yoga makes me better a person: It really does, I am a much better mother, wife and friend because of yoga! Yoga has helped me to open up my perspective and I am more calm and patient than before. I feel like I am 100% present in everything I do and that reflects in my relationship with my children, my husband, my clients and everyone who interacts with me.

2.Yoga perfectly compliments my exercise routine: When you lift weights at the gym or do high intensity cardio, like spinning on the bike, it is very important to stretch your muscles to avoid injury. Two minutes of stretching after a 60-minute workout is just not going to be enough.

Since I have started practicing yoga regularly my flexibility has improved, I have much better range of motion when I strength train and I don’t feel the stiffness in my muscles after my workouts.

3. Yoga makes me mindful of what I put in my mouth: When I practice yoga I am consciously connecting my breath to the way my body moves throughout the practice and this just makes me more aware and focused as I leave my mat and go about my day. It makes we more aware of what I am eating and how much my body really needs.

4. Yoga has increased my lean muscle mass: In yoga I use my own body weight to strengthen multiple muscle groups at the same time. This has helped me to increase lean muscle and get a toned body.

5. Yoga has improved my posture: I am a blogger and most of my work is on my computer or phone. This naturally puts me in a hunched over position most of the day. Then I lift heavy weight and spin on a bike, which adds more pressure on my cervical spine. Yoga has greatly helped me in aligning and strengthening my spine and undoing the effects of all that hunching.

If you have never tried yoga, I highly recommend it! I promise you, it will change your life!

Here are some of my favorite poses.

Virabhadrasana 1 (Warrior 1)

• Begin standing with your feet hip-distance apart and your arms by your sides. Exhale as you step your feet wide apart, about 4 to 5 feet.Turn your right foot out 90 degrees, so your toes are pointing to the top of the mat.
  
• Pivot your left foot inwards at a 45-degree angle.
  
• Align your front heel with the arch of your back foot. Keep your pelvis turned toward the front of your mat.
  
• Press your weight through your left heel. Then, exhale as you bend your right knee over your right ankle. Your shin should be perpendicular to the floor. Lift through the arches of your feet, while rooting down through your ankles.
  
• Reach up strongly through your arms. Broaden across your belly, lengthen the sides of your waist, and lift through your chest. Keep your palms and fingers active and reaching. You can keep your arms parallel, or press your palms together.
  
• Gently tilt your head back and gaze up at your thumbs. Keep your shoulders dropped away from your ears. Feel your shoulder blades pressing firmly inward.
  
• Press down through the outer edge of your back foot, keeping your back leg straight.
  
• Hold for up to one minute.
  
• To release the pose, press your weight through your back heel and straighten your front leg. Lower your arms. Turn to the left, reversing the position of your feet, and repeat for the same length of time on the opposite side.

 

Urdhva Mukha Savanaasana (Upward Facing Dog )

• Begin by lying face-down on the floor with your legs extended behind you, spread a few inches apart. The tops of your feet should rest on the mat — do not tuck your toes, as this can crunch your spine.
• Place your hands on the floor alongside your body, next to your lower ribs. Point your fingers to the top of the mat and hug your elbows in close to your ribcage.
• Inhale as you press through your hands firmly into the floor. Straighten your arms, lifting your torso and your legs a few inches off the floor.
• Keep your elbows pressed alongside your body. Drop your shoulders away from your ears and lift your chest toward the ceiling.
• Actively press your shoulder blades into your upper back. Keep your elbows hugged in to your sides. Broaden across your collarbones and lift your heart.
• Hold the pose for up to 30 seconds. To release, exhale as you slowly lower your torso and forehead to the mat.

 

Vasisthasana (Side Plank Pose)

• Begin in a Plank Pose (top of push up pose). Palms flat, body extended, with your legs reaching through your heels, parallel to the floor.
• Step your feet together and press your weight down through your right hand and forearm. Then, roll your body to the right, balancing on the outer edge of your right foot. Stack your left foot on top of your right foot and keep your legs straight.
• Extend your left arm to the sky, reaching through your fingertips as you lift your hips and firm the triceps of both arms. Feel the muscles across your shoulder blades flex. Firm your thighs, and press through your heels into the floor.
• Hold for up to 30 seconds. Exhale as you slowly return to Plank Pose.