The time-honored art of yoga has its origins in ancient India, where it was first practiced. Since then, it has spread to the West, and is now a popular well-being therapy here in the US and all over the world.
But something is critically missing.
Many people in the US associate yoga with just the physical form, called the asana.
However, yoga is much more than that.
It is about the ‘sadhana' - the spiritual practice - and other widely deemphasized spiritual and meditative limbs of Yoga.
It is about connecting with your inner-self and aligning your mind and your body. It's about detaching yourself from physical worries and concerns, and, instead, focusing on your inner being.
As a result, you develop a keener awareness of your mind and the thoughts that go on within the cranial recesses.
You're able to clear your mind, settle your emotions, and engage in healthy physical exercise simultaneously
Yoga is more than just an exercise. It’s a philosophy that fosters a deeper connection between your body and mind for your overall spiritual, emotional, and mental wellbeing.
That said, here are some beyond-the-physical benefits of yoga:
Mood Improvement
Although there's no real cure for mental ailments like depression and anxiety, yoga is still of great benefit here.
Yoga combines focused breathing and gentle, deliberate movements to impact your state of inner being, meaning that it plays a huge role in calming you down mentally.
As far as anxiety and depression are concerned, being able to achieve inner calm regardless can bring the clarity required to proffer workable solutions to the problems that task one mentally.
Studies have also shown that people that practice yoga regularly feel less confusion, anxiety, depression, and tiredness than those who don't.
Mental Health Improvement
One of the most common mental issues in the world today is MDD (major depressive disorder).
Studies have shown that yoga-based therapies can significantly help people with depressive symptoms. Today, yoga is a widely accepted and efficient treatment for MDD.
Boost to Self-Esteem
Self-esteem issues, despite the physical symptoms, are inherently emotional and psychological issues. They stem from a poor image of oneself and are linked to other mental disorders.
For young adults and adolescents, studies have shown that yoga improved perceived body image and self-esteem. Furthermore, there is evidence showing that yoga could aid in alleviating the symptoms of depression and anxiety in people suffering from anorexia nervosa.
Divine Connection
If you have faith in a higher being or belief in a higher energy, yoga can help you to connect to this source of strength. This serves as a form of spiritual enlightenment, allowing you to become conscious in more ways than the physical.
During yoga, you feel a unique sense of calm that increases your light sensitivity even if your eyes are closed. You gain consciousness of all your body parts, up until the source of ethereal power, as you're aware of a power source much higher than you are.
Mind Healing
Many mental ailments like depression and anxiety damage the mind. They don't just make you sad, they damage your outlook on life, and make you despondent, irritable, and antisocial.
For some people, they become outright cruel and fail to see the good in others.
Yoga doesn't just end on the mat, or in the yoga studio. It extends into your everyday life and demands that you translate the same awareness and calm into your day-to-day activities.
As a result, constantly practicing yoga will slowly, but surely heal your mind and spirit, making you a better person.
Experience the True Essence of Yoga
Here at Shift Yoga, we practice Yoga in its entirety, enabling you to reach your fitness goals while achieving spiritual awareness, optimal mental health, and emotional balance. Get started now.