Yoga CAN play a role as part of every woman’s self care toolbox.
Yoga is a combination of physical poses (called asanas), breathing techniques and meditation.
That’s a somewhat “official” definition.
There are many yoga styles and different styles stress slightly different aspects of these three elements. Although yoga comes from an ancient Indian spiritual tradition that includes meditation and chanting, a class does not have to include a spiritual component.
Yoga will improve your strength, flexibility and balance.
It has also been used to help women with back pain, insomnia, anxiety, depression, arthritis, heart disease and fatigue.
In other words, you’re not just addressing one symptom when you practice Yoga; you’re addressing your whole self.
Yoga helps people become better at maintaining concentration and coping with their emotions, which is important in producing lasting health benefits.
Due to Yoga’s benefits, many employers provide yoga classes for their workers. Employers find that yoga helps their employees handle stress, anxiety and burnout.
One example is Sandia National Laboratories, a national security laboratory in New Mexico. They offer free yoga classes in an on-site fitness center for its 8,300 employees.
So far, Yoga has been a hit. “There’s a great deal of call for it. Yoga has always been consistently attended here. It’s one of those classes you can take and go back to work and not smell really bad,” comments Stephanie Holinka, a spokeswoman for Sandia. Unlike aerobics or other types of exercise, Yoga doesn’t require a shower afterwards — something that employees appreciate.
One of Sandia’s main reasons for offering Yoga is to help workers feel more relaxed and less stressed, she adds. “On the days that I’ve gone, I feel so much clearer when I get back here. You end up coming back with a lot of energy, which is nice,” she says.
You might think you’re too old or too inflexible to try Yoga, but anyone can do it.
As I mentioned before, Yoga has many styles to fit everybody regardless of your age or fitness level.
I’ve been teaching Yoga for 10 years now, and while it’s not for everyone, it has much to offer. Find a class and teacher that you feel comfortable with and give it a try.
If you already have included Yoga in your self-care program, I’d enjoy hearing from you and learning about the benefits you’re receiving!
shelli
Leave a Reply