Discover a New You
With the beginning of a new year comes new goals and resolutions. We all know this to be true. January takes the prize when it comes to crowded workout facilities. People flock to the gym to spend countless hours putting their bodies through intense workouts to try to get back in shape. How many people do you know that have this new goal each year and drop it after a few weeks? One of the reasons being that their bodies run out of steam, because well frankly, it’s just too much! So, what if I told you that your New Year’s resolution to become a stronger, healthier you doesn’t involve enduring dreaded sweat sessions at the gym.
A consistent yoga practice may be the workout you’ve been looking for, and it’s right at the edge of your grasp. As you flow between movements, your body gets the exercise it needs without having to push yourself to the brink every time you want to burn calories. Don’t cringe at the thought of exercise. Instead, look forward to it because you love the way it makes you feel. It’ll change your life.
Health Benefits
The positive impacts of yoga on your health are innumerable. If you want a behind-the-scenes look at the benefits of yoga and what it can do for your body, listen to what one of our students has to say!
Two of the most common contributors of unhappiness in our day-to-day lives are stress and chronic pain. Stressors are always present, whether it’s stress from work or kids or whatever else might be going on in your life. But for an hour or an hour and a half out of the day, you can escape them all. Yoga gives your body and mind time to calm down, re-connect and feel rejuvenated, alleviating any anxiety or stress. It gives you back a sense of power to charge on and conquer any challenges life throws your way.
If you live with back pain or another form of chronic pain, take a few yoga classes and you’ll start to see a drastic change in the way you feel. Studies show that practicing yoga and meditation reduces pain for individuals with arthritis, back and neck pain and other chronic conditions. How incredible would it be to say goodbye to pain that wears you down? That can be your reality.
Physical Benefits
Yoga as a whole increases your strength and flexibility. Using your body weight in a yoga class creates toned and lean muscle in your legs, arms and abdominals. Hang up the weights and let your body get stronger on its own.
For those of you shaking your head that yoga is a workout, have you ever tried a warm or hot yoga class? You don’t know the meaning of a sweat session until you have! They get your blood pumping and give you a full-body workout. If that’s not for you, there are a multitude of other styles of yoga to try that are less intense.
These are all amazing benefits, but the best part about yoga is that it’s about YOU. It’s about your journey, your pace and how you feel. It’s not a competition, and you don’t have to run yourself into the ground every time you want to exercise.
It’s a new year, and the timing couldn’t be more prime to start making those steps towards becoming a better, healthier and stronger you. But don’t take my word for it, commit to your own yoga practice and you’ll soon be asking yourself why in the world it took you so long to start.
Begin your practice at AYC! Try our free Intro to Yoga class every Monday evening in January from 5:45-6:45pm or purchase an Intro Special with 6 classes for just $6 each.
