No matter what style of yoga you are practicing, when you arrive on the mat, you cultivate present moment awareness which allows you to fully experience all the benefits a yoga practice can offer. Improved flexibility, stress relief, improved strength, and stamina are all strong benefits to the physical poses we practice. Even greater, when you combine the poses with pranayama (breath-work) and meditation you will see that the practice can also help you gain more energy, a stronger focus, better relationships, less reactivity and more thought, and a better overall sense of well-being.
If a formal meditation practice seems impossible try making every yoga session a meditation in motion. All it takes is a willingness to be fully present with the sensations, thoughts, and feelings that arise in each and every moment of your practice.
In addition, adding breathing exercises (pranayama) to your practice can have a profound effect on your energy level, mood, and stress levels. The combination of yoga poses, breath-work, and being mindful on the mat can ease anxiety, fight fatigue, lower blood pressure, and ward of depression.
Thanks for reading everybody. We'd love to hear how yoga and/or meditation helps you, let us know if the comments below.
Warmly,
Liz Nierzwicki
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