The more I completely kick people’s butts, the more they come back to class. I’ve learned this over the past decade at Mind the Mat. But did you know that yoga can kick your butt, too? When we first opened in 2008, the most frequently heard misnomer was “Pilates is hard and yoga is just stretching right?” Actually, yoga can be much more physically challenging than ever imagined. Since that seems to be what everyone wants, a complete physical challenge, I will describe why everyone should be doing yoga now...whether it kicks your butt or not!   

1. The stretching and strengthening in yoga postures balance our bodies.

As we age, our connective tissue -- ligaments, tendons, fascia, etc. -- and muscles change. Yoga stretches and strengthens us in all the right places to ensure we don’t experience something called adaptive shortening. Adaptive shortening occurs when our bodies are placed in one position for long periods of time, like sitting too long or holding bad posture. The muscles and connective tissue will actually respond by tightening on one side of the body and lengthening/weakening on the other. For example, if we sit all the time, our hip flexors and hamstrings will get tight and our glutes and back muscles will weaken, and you know I love the glutes! Postures in yoga counter this phenomenon and thus help you achieve a more balanced and, thus, better functioning body,  

2. Yoga changes our brains…for the better.

For the longest time I thought yoga was too foo-foo for me. I felt uncomfortable with the thought of belting out an om or even attempting to meditate. But science has spoken and we now understand what all the yogis have known since ancient times. Harvard studies have found that regularly practicing yoga improves mood, concentration, memory, empathy, and reduces stress and anxiety. Um, yes please! 

3. Yoga is three dimensional.

Do you like to run, cycle, row? Great! We need to keep moving! But in those specific exercises our bodies are only working within one specific plane, and we are 3D beings. The twists, side bends, and rotations preserve and improve the normal movements within our joints. By moving as the multi-planar beings that we are, the innate function and range of motion our joints are meant to produce are further established and strengthened. What does that mean? We are better equipped to move through life without aches and pains. We are also less susceptible to injury as we age, and whether you are young or old, we can all get injured. If you are intimidated to start, we get it. But we have a class for that! In fact, whatever you are thinking now -- “I am not flexible enough.” “People will look at me.” “I won’t understand the terminology.” -- we have heard it, and we have a class for you. If you look at our schedule you will see so many styles and formats, there is something for every body type, every age, and every fitness level. Here are some suggestions for where to start: 

Total Newbie

Gentle YogaYoga Fundamentals SeriesSlow FlowHot Deep Stretch

 

Dabbled in Yoga

Slow FlowHot FlowPower Flow

 

Injuries or Super Stiff

NEW RestorativeYoga FundamentalsTherapeutic YogaGentle Yoga

 

With Child or New Baby

Prenatal YogaMommy & Me YogaPost-Pregnancy Core Yoga

 

Seniors with Mobility Needs

Chair YogaTherapeutic Yoga

 Do you have questions for me? I would love to hear from you. Email me directly at megan@mindthemat.com.