5 Reasons why NOW is the time to start an at home yoga practice

Updated 27/07/23

Yoga is the ideal activity for any condition. It can be practised in any space big enough to hold your body, does not require fancy equipment, can be carried out indoors and is low impact (much to the relief of flat 3 below). 

When life worries seems all-consuming, the yoga mat offers a moment of relief and welcome calm, nurturing the body through gentle, yet powerful movement. 

Reduces Anxiety

Anxiety feeds off of uncertainty. Yoga, however, thrives in the present moment, drawing attention away from the external world to focus in on body and breath. In doing so, worry for the uncontrollable gives way to peaceful acceptance of the here and now. 

Moreover, regular yoga and meditation practice have been shown to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The subsequent “relaxation response” activates the body’s restorative functions, thereby stimulating a greater sense of calm.

Sleep 

Dramatic life changes, heightened distress, concern for loved ones, all of these can cause disruptions to our sleep pattern. 

Yoga can help us obtain those all important eight hours. A regular practice has been linked to boosted melatonin levels, the hormone which helps regulate the body’s internal clock and sleep-wake cycle. Increased melatonin contributes to a restful night's sleep, which in turn supports our mental and physical wellbeing, and a healthy immune system.

Strength 

Yoga can be a challenging workout and improve our overall strength. Several key asana poses are weight-bearing, such as plank, downward-facing dog and headstand to name a few. Conducting these positions correctly requires a great deal of strength and endurance, simultaneously working a variety of muscles whereas weight training tends to isolate a single muscle or muscle group. 

Moreover, just as practising these weight-bearing yoga poses can improve bone health, getting a sweat on and building fitness is empowering and releases those much-needed endorphins!

Flexibility 

Tight hips, sore glutes, back pain and a stiff neck. Such are the joys of working at a desk.  Including a regular yoga practice into the working day can counteract muscle tightness, poor posture and musculoskeletal damage brought on from hours hunched over a desk. 

Yoga poses such as upward dog, eagle and low lunge release areas in the body that are easily affected by prolonged inactivity. Such posture stretch, lengthen and loosen muscles that typically create physical soreness, thereby improving our overall range of motion, posture and balance.

Outstanding Yoga Teachers

Online yoga classes have never been more accessible to the public. 

Whether you’re just starting out, or are a more experienced yogi who prefers to be guided by a qualified yoga teacher, a quick search on Yoga Alliance Professionals will show up countless instructors able to offer an appropriate online class, private tutorial or recorded flow.

Interested? Head to Yoga Alliance Professionals to find a yoga teacher that can get you through this lockdown.