Yoga is an excellent activity that can help you increase your flexibility and mobility, regulate your nervous system, decrease inflammation in the body, and reduce stress. The benefits of yoga are endless, and this practice has been around for more than 5,000 years. Whether you’ve been practicing yoga for years or you’re brand new to the practice, there are some things you can do differently that can benefit you.
What to Do Differently in Your Yoga Exercise
There are many ways that you can practice yoga. Some people do their own flow at home and move naturally with how their body feels. You can also use videos online to sneak in a quick practice. There are all kinds of apps and YouTube channels you can reference. There are likely yoga studios and pop-up classes in your area that you can sign up for. There are also different types of yoga, including hatha yoga, yin yoga, hot yoga, and more.
There are some things you can add to your yoga exercise experience that can really elevate the benefits it helps you achieve. For example, infrared yoga is beneficial for both mental and physical health. This is a type of yoga practice you’ll need to head to a special studio for, but it’s worth the drive time. The room will slowly heat up during your practice to help your body loosen up and increase in flexibility. You should see better circulation and detox benefits as well.
The breathing component of yoga is very important, but this is something that a lot of people forget about. As you flow through a yoga sequence, you should follow the inhale and exhale cues of the instructor. This allows you to connect your body, mind, and spirit. Breath awareness can also help enhance your physical performance during yoga exercise. Deep breathing and belly breathing have been known to stimulate the vagus nerve and regulate the nervous system.
What to be Careful of in Yoga
While yoga tends to follow a nice slow flow, there are some things that you can do wrong. Many people attempt to move their body in a way that is too much for them. If a certain position or stretch causes you pain or makes you feel uncomfortable, you should stop. There are several modifications that you can use if a certain position just doesn’t work for you.
If you have prior injuries, you’ll need to consider the movement you’re doing during yoga. There may be certain positions that could reinjure your body or cause further damage. You can speak with your doctor to find out if there are certain yoga positions that you should avoid.
It’s beneficial to work with an experienced and knowledgeable yoga instructor to adequately take advantage of the benefits of yoga. You can also investigate specialty studios that offer different types of yoga, like infrared or hot yoga. Meditation classes are also something that can be a nice complement to your practice.