The Many Benefits of Yoga (In My Opinion)

I had to skip my yoga practice for four days recently. I’d pulled a muscle in my chest, and even lying on my side in bed was painful, so stretching and moving the way yoga requires was out of the question. And I could tell that I was missing out on the many benefits of yoga.

I swear I could literally feel my muscles tightening back up. But more than that, my creativity was dwindling. My patience was shorter. And my ability to keep my mouth shut so I could think first and speak second was not nearly as strong.

I’ve mentioned the benefits of yoga before, but I wanted to talk about it again because I think it’s really amazing what it can do for you if you let it.

Yoga Is More Than Posing

When we think of yoga, for many, the first thing that comes to mind is the physical practice. Downward Facing Dog, Forward Bend, Sun Salutations — these things probably pop immediate images into your head, right?

But there’s a lot more to it than that. There’s actually what’s called the eight-limbed path, which is the eight parts of yoga — of which asana (the physical poses) is only one. And it’s actually third, not first. Meditation is another, and so is breath work.

I’m not an expert on all of them, though I have read them all. I work on incorporating them all into my life, though as a mom with two kids to homeschool and a career to build, it’s not always easy or at the top of my mind.