20 Benefits Of Yoga You Wish You Knew Sooner

20 Benefits Of Yoga You Wish You Knew Sooner – From Strength To Serenity

Discover 20 benefits of yoga that pave the way to holistic well-being and transform your journey toward a happier and healthier lifestyle starting today. The choice is yours…

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Yoga and I weren’t in love at first sight.

I left my first yoga class thinking: “Thanks, but I don’t think I will be back any time soon.” And, in fact, I wasn’t. I think it was about 10 years later when I found myself back on the mat. 

But the second time around, I had an instant connection with yoga. And a year later I quit my job and travelled halfway around the world to do my first 200hrs Yoga Teacher Training.

Sounds a wee bit extreme? I guess so, but I have always been an all-or-nothing kind of girl.

Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.

– The Bhagavad Gita

Throughout my yoga journey, I learned that yoga is so much more than just a physical practice.

Yes, of course, you get all the benefits of a tight core, toned legs, toned arms, etc. but if you are open to it, yoga has the potential to completely rock your boat and shake up your belief system.

Yoga offered me a gateway to my emotions and along this journey of personal growth and self-discovery, I found my truth and the key to living a more authentic life, which is led by the heart rather than the mind.

In today’s blog post, we will explore 20 benefits of yoga, and yes I could easily extend the list. All the benefits of yoga listed below I have experienced myself along my journey and also heard from my fellow yogi friends and yoga students who experienced these or similar benefits.

So if you have been thinking about starting a regular yoga practice, this is your sign my friend 🖤.

20 Benefits of yoga – your path to wellness starts today

Below are 20 benefits of yoga; some of them you might already be well aware of, but I am sure that others will surprise you.

The 20 benefits of yoga are split into 3 main categories: physical benefits of yoga, emotional benefits of yoga and spiritual benefits of yoga.

And now, let’s get started!

Physical benefits of yoga

1. Improved strength

If you think that yoga is just stretching I highly recommend you take a Vinyasa Flow, Hot Yoga or even an Ashtanga yoga class.

Yoga is a great way to build strength within the body as yoga is a full-body workout that targets multiple muscle groups at the same time.

Yoga poses like for example High Plank pose, Warrior II or Downward facing dog require you to support your body weight, promoting balanced strength and endurance throughout your entire body.

Regular yoga practice will increase strength in your core, arms, legs, back, etc. leading to a stronger and more resilient body that supports you in your everyday activities.

2. Improved flexibility

Ok my friends, let’s clear out yoga myth#1: no, you don’t need to be flexible to do yoga. Not at all.

Flexibility is actually one of the most noticeable benefits that a regular yoga practice can bring.

Yoga helps to loosen tight areas in your body, improve range of motion and reduce stiffness overall.

Yoga combines breath with movement which allows the muscles to relax deeper into stretches. Movements that once seemed out of reach become easier over time.

Improved flexibility can help to prevent injuries, relieve tension, and improve overall mobility in your daily life.

3. Improved posture

Many of us spend hours sitting at a desk, hunching forward looking at a screen, mobile phone, tablet etc.

Over time, lack of movement and constant hunching forward can cause poor posture and in some cases, it might even cause chronic pain such as back pain or neck pain, headaches, etc.

By strengthening the core muscles and enhancing flexibility, yoga promotes an improved and more upright posture.

In addition, yoga teaches body alignment awareness which can lead to conscious adjustment in how you sit, stand, move, etc. promoting an improved posture in daily life.

4. Enhanced balance

Yoga teaches better balance by challenging your stability through poses that require focus and control; for example, Tree pose or Eagle pose.

These poses engage the core muscles and require concentration, helping you improve coordination and foster more balance and body awareness. 

With time and consistent practice, yoga improves both, your physical and mental balance.

5. Naturally boosted immunity

Yoga naturally boosts the immune system by reducing stress, enhancing circulation, and supporting overall body function.

By lowering stress levels through deep breathing and relaxation techniques, yoga helps prevent the immune system from weakening.

Additionally, regular practice of yoga strengthens the lymphatic system, which plays a crucial role in fighting infections, thereby enhancing the body’s natural defences.

6. Natural pain relief

Yoga is a great way to manage and reduce pain naturally.

Through gentle stretching and targeted poses, yoga helps to release tension in tight muscles, increasing mobility, and helping to reduce discomfort in the body.

Emotional benefits of yoga

7. Ease stress levels

Yoga links breath with movement to create unity between body, mind and spirit.

This synergy promotes deep relaxation, helps to calm the nervous system and reduces stress hormones like cortisol.

As your focus shifts inwards to your breath, the mind becomes quiet, alleviating stress while cultivating a sense of inner peace.

Through regular practice, yoga helps you to achieve a more calm and centred state of well-being that can expand in all areas of your life.

8. Boost focus and concentration

As you synchronize breath with movement, your mind becomes clear, and more attuned to the present moment, which helps to reduce distractions.

This practice strengthens your ability to concentrate, as it trains the mind to stay engaged and clear, even in challenging situations.

Over time, yoga enhances mental clarity and sharpens your ability to focus, both on and off the mat.

9. Improved sleep quality

By promoting relaxation and reducing stress, yoga can help to improve your sleep quality.

Through gentle stretching, deep breathing, and mindfulness practices, yoga helps calm the nervous system and lower cortisol levels, making it easier for you to relax and unwind before bed.

Additionally, yoga enhances the mind-body connection, helping you develop a more consistent evening routine that signals to your body that it is time to rest, leading to a deeper, more restorative sleep.

10. Can provide more emotional stability

Through mindful breathing and movement, yoga helps to clear away mental clutter and reduce stress, helping to create a more balanced and emotional state of being.

Yoga also encourages introspection and self-acceptance which can help to better understand and manage emotions, making it easier to navigate life’s challenges with a calm and steady mindset.

11. Enhanced mindfulness

By linking breath with movement, yoga promotes mindfulness.

As you flow through a series of yoga poses, your attention is naturally drawn to how your body feels, how your breath moves, and how your mind responds.

This practice helps to quiet the mind and cultivates a sense of presence, allowing you to be fully engaged in the present moment.

Over time, yoga encourages you to be more present in life, leading to a healthier and more intentional way of living.

12. Enhanced mood and increased happiness

Movement naturally uplifts your mood by triggering the release of endorphins, the body’s feel-good hormones.

Regular yoga practice can help to decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety while increasing feelings of joy and contentment. 

In addition, yoga’s emphasis on self-compassion, self-care and acceptance also fosters a more positive self-image, which can positively contribute to your overall happiness.

13. Mental resilience

Life is full of challenges, we always go through ups and downs.

Yoga can help to build mental resilience to help you navigate through these challenges better.

The discipline of holding challenging yoga poses, the patience required in meditation, and the focus needed in balancing postures all help you to build greater mental strength. 

Over time, this resilience can help you handle stress, setbacks, and difficult emotions with grace.

Spiritual benefits of yoga

14. Helps to create inner peace and calm

Through deep breathing, meditation and mindful movement, yoga helps to quiet the mind and soothe the nervous system.

Yoga encourages you to slow down, focus on your breath and move with intention which helps to release physical tension and mental stressors.

As you become more attuned to your body and breathing, yoga helps you foster a sense of grounding and stability.

Over time this mindful approach can help to cultivate a sense of peace and tranquility, fostering a sense of calm that extends beyond the mat.

15. Reconnect with your essence

By fostering self-awareness and encouraging self-compassion, yoga provides a space to reconnect with your inner self.

Through regular practice, you learn to listen to your body, better understand your emotions, honour your boundaries, needs, etc. which can all support you in living and creating a more authentic and fulfilling life.

16. Embrace your true self

Yoga teaches you to embrace your true self by encouraging self-acceptance and authenticity in your practice.

As you explore different yoga poses, yoga invites you to listen to your body and honour its unique abilities and limitations, free from comparison or judgment.

Yoga offers a non-judgmental environment where you can express yourself fully, whether that means trying an unconventional pose, laughing at yourself, or finding joy in your quirks.

By celebrating individuality and letting go of the need for perfection, yoga helps you discover, appreciate and embrace your true self.

17. Accept your boundaries

In our society, boundaries or limitations always come with a negative connotation. But ignoring your boundaries and pushing through them can lead to pain, exhaustion, anxiety, depression, etc.

Yoga teaches you that there is a difference between what your mind (ego) wants and what is healthy for you and your body.

You begin to understand that your boundaries are important and that they can teach you a lot about yourself.

Boundaries teach us to be mindful of our needs, they protect our energy and if you use them wisely, these boundaries can help guide you in creating a life with deeper purpose and meaning.

18. Cultivate self-love

Yoga is an internal practice and one of the biggest lessons yoga can teach us is self-acceptance.

Yoga promotes mindfulness helping us to become more attuned to our thoughts, emotions, and inner dialogues. This allows a sense of self-awareness and helps to unveil any negative self-perceptions that we might have.

Once you are aware of your negative self-perceptions, you can start to gradually replace them by cultivating self-love from within.

19. Embrace change

Yoga teaches you to embrace change by cultivating flexibility, both physically and mentally.

As you move through different yoga poses on your yoga mat, you learn to adapt to new challenges and transitions, whether it’s shifting from one posture to another or modifying a pose to suit your body’s needs.

You learn to let go of expectations and be open to what each moment brings.

In addition, yoga helps you to become more comfortable with uncertainty and change, fostering resilience and a deeper trust in the process of transformation both on the mat and in your daily life.

20. Learn the art of letting go

Through mindful breathing and mindful movement, yoga invites you to observe your thoughts and feelings without attachment or judgment.

As you move through different yoga poses, you learn to let go of the need for perfection and control, embracing the practice as it unfolds.

This process of surrendering, helps you cultivate the ability to let go of stress, expectations, and past burdens, leading to a greater sense of freedom and inner peace.

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From enhancing your physical health to nurturing your mental and emotional well-being, the benefits of yoga are vast and as mentioned earlier, I could easily extend this list of 20 benefits of yoga.

Regular yoga practice can allow you to step into a healthier and happier version of yourself and help you create a more balanced and fulfilled life. A life that matters to you and feels worth living.

Embrace your inner warrior – Tips on how to start yoga

If you came that far in reading my blog post, you are likely to be looking to start a regular yoga practice. Below are a few tips to help you kickstart your yoga practice today:

• Find a yoga style and yoga teacher that resonates with you
• Decide home yoga practice vs yoga studio (I always recommend both)
• Focus on beginner yoga classes to build a strong foundation
• Commit to consistency
• Approach your yoga practice with an open mind

I am a certified Yoga Teacher and my blog offers a lot of resources to help you start a regular yoga practice. Below are two related resources I recommend you check out:

• 10 Best Yoga Tips For Beginners – Kickstart Your Yoga Journey Today
• Start a Home Yoga Practice Today – 7 Proven Hacks From A Yoga Teacher

Let Your Shadow Shine Yoga

If you are ready to step onto your yoga mat and start your yoga journey with me, join me in the Costa Rican jungle for a beginner-friendly yoga flow.

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Yoga shook up my world and I am deeply grateful for all the experiences and people that yoga brought into my life.

In yoga, I found an outlet for depression, anxiety and grief. Through regular practice, I learned to ground myself, let go of fear, embrace trust, and connect with the healing power of my heart.

Yoga certainly is a journey, but it is your journey and you are the captain of your ship. Meaning you decide where this journey will lead you and how deep it will go. The power is yours.

Before you go, make sure to sign up for my newsletter to always stay up to date with all my latest yoga tips to support your yoga practice and take a look at my weekly schedule and online offerings. I would love to see you on the mat!

As always, thank you so much for your time and space, my friends!

Stay wild,

Nicolle

Featured image: Photo by madison lavern on Unsplash