My yearly workout subscription ended this month and I was confused about which one to buy. On one hand I had yoga and the other, a variety of formats. I enjoy functional training and Zumba but they also scare me. My back needs a lot of care so I am always worried if I am training right.
A bit of debate (with myself) and I chose a three-month Yoga subscription.
I have been a Yoga lover for as long as I can remember. Growing up, we had a neighbor whose house I frequented. Aunty was a Bengali and I was tempted to go to her place for some fish curry and rice. She knew that and welcomed me every other day. Mum and Aunty made a pact so that I learn something more than what I was learning in school. So I started getting informal lessons in Yoga and dance. She used to practice with me and that made me comfortable.
We used to first warm up by stretching and try asanas like the shoulder stand, the triangle pose, warrior pose and a few other. Around 45 minutes each day and I used to be back home happy and ready to study.
When I left home for college, both dance and Yoga slipped away. But by then and without me knowing, Yoga had changed me physically. I was more flexible than most of my friends at my age. I felt good but stopped practicing. Studies, competitive exams and college took away all physical activities. Classes, tutorials and lab assignments was my life.
I picked up Yoga around five years back and since then, I haven’t let it slip away. I am far away from being a pro and on my own journey. On this blog, you have heard about the 7 types of yoga to break monotony and today, I want to share with you why you should try yoga.
Below are 5 reasons why lessons from Yoga are lessons for life.
- Stretch : Every time you stretch, you talk to your body and tell your muscles that there is room to stretch a little more. At home or at work we all stretch. Some times to accommodate and some times to push our boundaries. Our patience is tested but we come out strong. Think of school days. Did you stretch to study a little more? At work, have you stayed a little longer or worked after you reached home to close that one email? All that is stretching. Isn’t it? A little more makes us flexible and helps us achieve what we have set out for.
- You get to know your body: This can’t get any simpler. You understand the way you have been designed. Yes, I know what I mean. We are all different. Same 206 bones but differently put together. Yoga helps you see that you may be flexible but some things are unique in your body. The way you round your back or how you support yourself in inversions. We are all on that journey to know ourselves first. To know our strengths and know what we can work upon to become better versions of ourselves.
- Perseverance: The more you practice, the perfect you get. It’s all about alignments and using the right part of the body to attempt an asana. Again, what you can do on your day one, another person may take a year. What you do in a couple of years, someone may be a pro at it from day one. If you are ready to invest the time and believe that practice will make you better, you improve. Don’t we talk about trying and not giving up?
- Breathe and accept: All it takes it one breath. To let go. Many times I have seen I hold my breath or I am worried if I am doing it the right way. But if I breathe and accept that I am who I am and I don’t compare myself with others, I do better at yoga. This happens in life too. A peer earns more or a friend is more successful. We need to accept what we have and work on ourselves.
- You are alone: When you practice Yoga you do it alone. You listen to the instructor but that’s where it ends. What you do is your effort. Like in life we have family and friends but in essence we are all living our individual lives. We love and live but we also die alone. In our problems, we have the support of our loved ones but we face it alone. Don’t we?
So now you know why I picked up the three-month pack. For all these reasons and the fact that it is important to enjoy the physical activity. Yoga makes me feel good and I look forward to a class which is why when I don’t workout, I feel grumpy and low on energy.
What is your reason to take up your favorite form of workout?
Writing for Monday Musings today.
happiness and food 
Just yesterday I took an annual subscription at my local fitness center and it has many group classes, yoga being one of them.
To tell you the truth, I have always been kinda intimidated by it, mostly due to ignorance I guess. I was wondering whether I should take it up, and if I will be able to follow along being such a beginner. Your post has convinced me to at least try. 🙂
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Golf is similar in many ways..a form of yoga, if you will.. I have felt very energised anytime I play..of course the frequency tends to be less unless you live next to a golf course-which I did for a few years at Kirloskar Institute-and when we created a small 2 hole golf thing at Nagpur.
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Keep going 🙂
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Well done on your discipline. I’ve never tried yoga but I do believe in regular exercise, although mine is mainly brisk walking. Is it true that Variety is the Spice of Life?
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I’ve also tried Zumba and Aerobics and many other fads of the day. But yoga is timeless. I have been very slack lately but I must go back to a regular routine. Thanks for the reminder.
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Yoga has been a game changer into my life and the aspect about stretching is so true, breathe to let go, perseverance and listening to the body rings true, Parul.
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Great post !
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Thank you and thanks for following too 🙂
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I love Yoga. It helped me a lot with flexibility and also my allergies. I don’t do it as regularly as I should but I do Pranayam and Surya Namaskars pretty regularly. My favorite workout is running, strength training and Yoga. I am waiting for this knee to heal so that I can get back to my workouts.
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I enjoy dancing – it’s fun and a workout, which is very important for me if I’m going to do anything regularly! I do also want to give yoga a try; haven’t found a good instructor yet, though, so the search continues!
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Yoga is indeed the best exercise for all time . What I really love about it is the feeling of peace and calm you feel after a good workout . Be it 5 minutes or 50, yoga makes you aware of your body in ways that no exercise can because you really have to be in the moment while you twist and breathe….. So glad you e signed up for three months…
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I love Yoga too. It has helped me immensely with my PCOD and migraines. I’m working on flexibility and balance at the moment and I know I have a long way to go. Every morning as I practice, I feel my body stretch a little more, bend a little more and it feels like my body is listening to my mind. It feels so good.
While I would love to try the various head/hand stands, I want to get my basics right before I try them.
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I also like the fact that it’s a wholesome exercise sans any fancy equipment. You could do it wherever u are, travelling or not.
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Even I was practicing dance and exercises which was left after moving to college. I yet to get it back. Great analogies to spur the spirit of individual.
Parul, You are nominated for the mystery blogger award – https://shilpanairy.wordpress.com/2018/05/17/the-mystery-blogger-award/
Congratulation… 🙂
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I love yoga. It helps me with my back pain tremendously. I agree with all the lessons you have shared here, Parul.
I like Zumba too. My kids and I do a little dancing with the youtube videos on. It’s just fun, otherwise I am a terrible dancer and Kanna is so generous in expressing how terrible dancer I am, but still it is a fun activity. 🙂
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Agree agree agree. Cannot deny how relaxed Yoga makes me feel. And since I have a desk job, yoga is just right for me to improve my strength, flexibility and posture. I used to dance in college too but like you said, it stopped once life took over. I am so happy that you took Yoga subscription. I would love to read more and more about your journey and your classes 😀
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I totally agree with the reasons you mentioned. Yoga is definitely a great way to know our body. I have never been more in tuned with my mind and body. Enjoy your 3-month pack!
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