Health
WHY YOU NEED TO BOOK A YOGA CLASS NOW
BY REEM JABAK
Y
oga – comes from the
Sanskrit word “yuj” which
translates into “union”; that
is the union of mind, body
and soul bringing them in harmony. It
originated in India nearly 26,000 years
ago – and it is considered one of the
longest surviving practices. Today
it has become increasingly popular;
some seek it for the physical benefits
and some have gone deep into the
practice to experience the spiritual
advantages.
Within the physical practice, yoga
is different because of how we
connect the rhythm of our breath to
the movement of the body and the
turbulence of the mind. Uniting the
mind, body and breath helps us to
tune inward. Through this process we
turn our awareness inward and we
become more mindful of our patterns,
thoughts, behavior and experiences.
The benefits of yoga provide both
instant fulfilment and long-lasting
transformation. In the fitness world,
both are extremely important. It can
change your physical and mental
capacity quickly, while preparing the
mind and body for long-term health.
Let’s look at some of the various
benefits of yoga:
• Improves your flexibility: this
means you do not have to be
flexible to join a class which is a
misconception believed by many.
On the contrary, you develop it
during your practice. When defining
"flexibility" in yoga, it is an attitude
that transforms the mind as well as
the body. From the physical aspect,
flexibility stretches both your
muscles and joints, and makes your
body less prone to injuries because
it can withstand physical stress.
Muscular fatigue is due to lactic
acid building up, which yoga helps
release from the muscle cells into
the bloodstream so that it does not
hinder muscular contraction. On the
mental level, a flexible mind allows
you to be more accepting, and
leads to a strengthened ability to
approach problems and situations
in a more positive and innovative
manner.
• Builds your strength: if you’ve
heard the statements “yoga is
just stretching” or “you don’t get
stronger in yoga” or “it’s a gentle
woman-exercise” – think again.
During a yoga class, yogis are
constantly lifting their own bodies,
balancing and engaging their core
which with practice, is even more
effective than hitting the gym. In
addition, it works on many different
levels giving you a more balanced
approach, because a steady practice
will strengthen, lengthen, and tone
every muscles of your body.
• Protects your spine and improves
your posture: probably more than
half of the people in your community
suffer from back pain or disk
problems. Simply put, your spinal
disks are shock absorbers between
your vertebrae that can compress
nerves – you know what they crave?
Movement. This is their supply of
nutrients, and in yoga we “worship”
the spine in the sense that it is the
core of your body. When you have
a healthy spine, your posture begins
to improve eliminating all traces of
back, neck and other muscles and
joints problems.
• Relaxes your mind and helps
you focus: when you bring your
attention to your breath, making it
slower and deeper and focus on the
present moment, you begin to enter
into the “relaxation response”. That
is, you shift the balance from the
fight-or-flight response to the rest-
and-digest response. This causes
your blood pressure to decrease,
lowers heart rate and breathing and
improves blood circulation.
The benefits are endless, and the
only way you will know is when you
walk into your next yoga class with no
expectations, keep an open mind and
an open heart. Yoga does not have a
gender. Yoga does not have an age.
Yoga is for everyone.
Reem is a strong believer in the power of play and its ability to truly open the
mind. She is a certified Ashtanga instructor and Level II Reiki practitioner, who
stayed true to her own playful side by becoming an Air Yoga instructor as well.
Reem is also an avid lover of chocolate, coffee and ice cream. Follow Reem at
https://www.instagram.com/reemjabak/?hl=en