Do you feel anxious today? Have you noticed that your breaths are short and quick? You may being saying, “no, I feel fine, and I breath as I normally do”. Did you know that the average lung capacity of an adult is 6 litres? And the average adult only breaths in 500mL per breath? That means that we are inhaling less than 10% of our capacity of fresh air.
Some of you may be agreeing with the fact that you have gotten to the point where being stressed out is stressing you out! Even when we try to avoid stress, it manages to find us and tries to bring us down. It finds us at work, in our cars, at home and even with friends. Stress can negatively affect the immune system, your emotional life and yes, even trigger premature aging. To stay away from a variety of health and emotional problems, you’ve got to improve your stress management and relaxation skills. One great way to manage your stress and improve your overall wellbeing is through the simple act of breathing deeply. One way to practice deep breathing and get a more holistic approach to reducing stress is by practicing yoga.
Yoga has many benefits, including:
- Increasing flexibility and muscle joint mobility = Feel Younger Longer
- Increasing circulation = Improves Body Function
- Improving posture = Reduces Pain / Conveys Self-Confidence
- Relaxing the mind and body = Reduces Stress
- Centering attention = Mental Calmness
- Toning muscles = Stronger Body
How Do I Get Started?
From Iyenger to Kundalini, there are many different types of yoga classes to choose from, so there should be a class that is just right for you. You can even participate in a laughter yoga class!
Click here to find out which yoga class you may benefit from the most.
To find a class near you, go to yogafinder.com and yogadirectorycanada.com. You can also go to Lululemon.com or to your local store to find yoga studio recommendations.
If you can’t fit a class into your schedule, check out YogaToday.com and participate in a yoga session in the comfort of your own home. You can also pick up soothing, meditative music at your local music store or online.
Challenge Yourself:
Try out a little taste of yoga with the sun salutations. Preferably done at sunrise, or first thing in the morning, but can be done anytime of day. You choose the number of times you want to do it in a session. Aim to do this three times this week. You may learn to love it by the end.
Sun Salutations Video
