Yoga has been a pillar in my life, I was fortunate enough to have it introduced into my life as a child and ever since my first class I knew it was a practice that I would always continue, not because my goal was salvation from age 10 but because I just felt better after each class. I couldn’t put my finger on it, the days I did yoga I just felt more at ease, I slept better, I wasn’t as restless, I was more at peace.
This became clear to me when I was in college and coping with the pressure of final exams I would find myself itching to roll out my yoga mat in my dorm room and start my day with a few sun salutations before I could concentrate and sit down to revise. It helped me relieve my nerves and release all the excess energy that would distract me from sitting still, and this became my revision routine that lead me to realize the psychological as well as physiological effects practicing yoga can bring.
As much as we are working with the body, it is to also strengthen your will, clear your mind and calm your breathing patterns. Often in a strong yoga class as much as we cultivate muscular control we also start to cultivate an inner strength and learn to trust ourselves more. If you’re feeling pent up and stressed you will find a class tailored to constructively discharging excess energy to help you think better, sleep better and work better. Sometimes we don’t realize how much stress we carry along with us, that’s why it’s important to have a trusting relationship with your yoga teacher who consistently guides you and personally give you what you need to stay at ease.
