A dainty studio, candles burning, soft music–the yoga mat is spread and the instructor is guiding through meditative movement for relaxation. Class was expensive, but the feeling received is worth every penny spent. We associate yoga as a special occasion for when the world feels a little heavier, but becoming familiar with yoga and welcoming the practice into our daily routine can be life changing.
Despite our correlation that yoga needs to be an excessive practice of self care, learning movements and what benefits they can grant us can boost both our mental and physical health. Yoga provides relaxation for both brain and body, allowing us to connect with our mind and emotions, and to stretch our muscles and rest our bodies as a whole.
With a major thank-you to the Internet and especially YouTube, yoga does not always need to be practiced at a studio, or even with a face-to-face instructor. There are thousands of free videos online by professionals that teach individuals yoga poses that can be done at home. All you need is your body and a flat surface to lay on, a real yoga mat is not even necessary. The beauty of the practice is that it is made to be a personal experience, allowing your mind and body to reset and relax.
When our bodies begin to ache, or our minds begin to overwhelm us, we are quick to reach into the medicine cabinet for a solution. There are, of course, situations where medications aid our bodies, but switching focus to a holistic approach for healing is a powerful method. Gaining tools and tricks to promote wellness within ourselves allows us to be able to heal when medications may not be accessible. We also begin to understand ourselves better and create a deeper connection to our inner self. The price tag to yoga being zero is also a wonderful appeal to this divine practice.
Next time aspects of your life feel too heavy to handle, take a moment to find a yoga video that attracts your attention, and sit with yourself for a minute. Allow the online instructor to aid your practice, and introduce yourself to a new world of medicine for free. The beautiful element of having a body is the beautiful way in which we can heal it from home.
