Tell me about the benefits of yoga!

[Rainydays55]

For those of you who practice yoga , how do you find it benefits you? How often a week do you do it? I have dipped in and out the last couple of year but don’t seem to be able to maintain doing it regularly.

Improvement in core muscle strength, posture improvements and better general flexibility that leads to easier gait movement. I find it calming and grounding. I practice with a teacher once or twice a week and try to do it alone in between (rarely keep that up though).

I used to practice regularly. The benefits were flexibility and body confidence. I've not done it for a while, I was trying to get into the spiritual side and had a really nasty "third eye" experience a couple of years back which left me bedridden for a week and made me question whether it was worthwhile.

I think it's fine as long as you treat it as just a set of exercises to help your flexibility and balance. Leave the spiritual side well alone unless you are with someone who is experienced in exploring that area - it's not something novices should mess with.

When I practice regularly, I feel like my whole body is articulated. It all moves as one. I flow and feel like I am in my body, rather than a brain attached to a body, if you see what I mean.

I also find that practicing Vinyasa yoga gives me a strong sense of well-being and energy. It is, for me, a moving mindfulness practice. I'm not a huge fan of the hold the posture kind of yoga. I like the movement and the flow best of all.

If you're familiar with yoga, Erin's 5 Park Yoga on Youtube is excellent.

I try and do yoga at least twice a week (since Feb). I just feel better in myself when I do it. People have noticed a change in my posture since I started.

RacheyCat

When I practice regularly, I feel like my whole body is articulated. It all moves as one. I flow and feel like I am in my body, rather than a brain attached to a body, if you see what I mean.

Beautifully put. I feel the same. Usually it seems like my body is just a mindless vehicle to carry my brain around, like a car, but when I do regular yoga I feel connected to my body on a really deep level. There is nothing like that yoga high.

@skirk64 Would you mind sharing what kind of 3rd eye experience you had? I've heard of people having terrible experiences with kundalini before (uncontrollable spasms, terrible nightmares etc.) but my only experiences have been good and happy.

It’s something for me
It helps me breathe (very shallow breather)
It helps me emotionally (have a good cry during some sessions during lockdown)
I feel I’ve gained an inner confidence that spreads around my whole body.
Have been morbidly obese and lost 8 stone over 4 years. I’ve had lower back pain.

Yoga has helped with that but I need to keep it up. Otherwise my lower back can spasm again.

I remember trying yoga 10 ish years ago. Hated it. It hurt. Lots of weight bearing, wrist hurt. Just hated it. Too slow. Liked body pump and Zumba.
But now, I love it.
Have tried various classes with different real life teachers/studios and on zoom too.
I like the flow vinyasa too and Hatha. However. Have begun to like the stay in position yoga too, yin/restorative yoga these last few months.
Until fairly recently, I’ll do it 3-4 times a week.
Honestly. I wish I did it sooner.

When I can keep it up I love it.
I think of it as my medicine as it helps me mentally.
My favourite is Adriane on YouTube.

@skirk64 I'm curious what the third eye experience was?
I don't think you can force the spiritual side. It will just naturally happen in the background gradually if you practise regularly.
It basically regulates my emotions, mood and mental state.
Try following Adriene's 30 day programmes on YouTube. .

Most days, even if I can only fit 10 minutes in.
Main benifit is that it gets rid of the tension in my neck and shoulders, similar to what a massage does.
Seems to change my state of mind from overwhelm, anxiety and stress to bring calm and feeling in control.
Its the only excersise I enjoy, so I figure it's better than none at all.
My husband frequently sends me upstairs to do yoga if he sees I'm stressed out.
I've never done a class. I use Adrienne, 5 parks and yoginimelbourne on YouTube.

I do yoga regularly, only 2-3 times a week as I like to do different exercise each day.

Apart from the obvious fitness benefits, it really helps my mental health. In the moment I'm concentrating on the poses and nothing else. I suffer a lot with anxiety and my mind is always racing but yoga is the only thing that completely quiets my mind. My whole self feels so much more peaceful and satisfied afterward.
Also really helps my posture especially after I've been sat at a desk all day!

I've been doing yoga blitz with Casey Bachelor but not finding it very 'yogary' any other recommends? I've looked at Adrienne but might find her voice a bit irritating!

I've been doing yoga almost every day this year and between 1-4 times a week since the pandemic started.

Mostly online classes and some YouTube. Mostly hatha and yin, also some restorative, kundalini. I have done a lot of classes in person over the years but very on /off.

The benefits have been great, better posture, more flexible, stronger, less shoulder/ neck pain, more energy and positivity, increased libido (DH is very happy!) I would agree with whoever said they felt part of their body, instead of a brain being carried around by a body.

@skirk64 would you be able to say more about the bad experience? I did a kind of Kung Fu when I lived abroad which was similar to kundalini and had a bad blip with it. I'm wondering whether it's the same kind of experience?

I would say yoga has literally changed my life, I’m definitely a calmer person for practicing regularly. I 100% prefer to do it in a class than via Zoom or a screen (although that might be because I am utterly sick of screens after a year of WFH). So roll on 17th May!!

Savasana, the little bit of relaxation at the end of the class, is genuinely the most peaceful experience I feel as an adult.

I also just love that whilst you can chose more challenging versions if you feel like it, it’s all about listening to your body, and accepting what you need on that day, in that minute.

Maybe sign up for something like a beginners course? I did that for six weeks then you’re basically committed to going for a set period and you can start to see the benefits. Once you realise how you consistently feel good afterwards I think you just start to want to go.

I second everything pp have written.

Also after a practice, I just feel good - even if I do just 5m I feel better. Looser, calmer, happier.

I used to think it was all a load of rubbish til I tried it and I'm a complete convert. It can be hard work, but its a workout that makes me feel great.

Please tell us about the 3rd eye experience

Some amazing posts here.

I am lucky to have discovered yoga early in my life.
I have practiced regularly - although not daily for decades.
Since lockdown I have been doing an hour of Vinyasa flow every morning- for a year now.
I am nearly 60.
I was actually walking around my local town this morning thinking how much my body feels so young, Full of life force, size 10 in black jeans and converse, overtaking people half my age. I feel as if I have springs in my body.

All of the above, plus I just dont ache when I wake up in the morning anymore. I feel great after.
I really like Yoga with Kassandra on you tube, she does 10 minute morning sessions which feels manageable plus longer vinyasa flows.

I’ve been doing yoga since the towards the end of the first lockdown. Mostly yoga with Adrienne. I had put on loads of weight was drinking too much and not moving due to WFH and totally stressed out due to lockdown, homeschooling, scared of Covid etc etc. I have always hated yoga but have usually been pretty healthy and fit - gym classes and running. I was in a total funk and knew something had to change so I started one of Adriennes 30 days (on her website) and it had completely changed my life. I try to do it every day though don’t beat myself up if I don’t. I am so much more relaxed, stronger, happier and more content. Agree that the feeling when you do a flow and feel so in tune with your movements is incredible.

It changed me so much I eventually became a yoga teacher!

On top of the strength and mobility it brings, I have found the mental health and stress-busting benefits the most powerful part.

Finding a teacher and style you like is important - try a few until you click, and then try to practice a few times a week at least (even if it's only 1 class and 5 minutes a day) as regularity and repetition will bring the greatest transformation.

The peace, calmness and focus it can bring is beyond compare . 🕉️😊

(I'd like to hear more about the 3rd eye experience too - I've had some emotional responses during very deep practice when in teacher training, but it's all been very beneficial).

*became

ItsNotMeOfficer

I am not sure what your point is actually.

Are you suggesting that some types of yoga can cause mental illness?
Do you have some spiritual agenda?

Saved my life. Continues to regularly
It is the only thing that works to keep me grounded when things are bad. It regulates my breathing so my whole body and mind can calm.
I feel shiny and dreamy and I can’t even describe it.. high I guess when I do yoga.
Oh and the major calf muscles are a bonus.

I thought I'd got some kind of permanent damage from giving birth, had sciatica for the last 3 years. Started doing daily yoga with Adriene after Christmas and all my pain is gone. Also experience all the mental/emotional benefits that everyone else has described. I feel more flexible emotionally, more able to be with whatever comes up in my daily life.

Would anyone be able to recommend a longer yoga flow practice online?

I do it weekly, my core strength has improved massively. I have more energy and it helps me sleep on the night I do it. It helps with flexibility and relaxation.