What is yoga beyond physical movement and exercise?

Yes yoga is great for building strength, flexibility, bone density and improving range and ease of movement, keeping joints healthy and can aid in managing weight, toning the body and building lean muscle. These are all wonderful things. A healthy body matters!! It's our vehicle through life and who doesn't want to feel great?!

Beyond that though is a dimension to the practise that many who just want to stretch their hamstrings or increase overall flexibility or mobility come to understand through participating in the practise.

Yoga is a mindfulness practise! Through focussing on the breath, sensations in the body and where the body is in space, it centres and grounds one into the present moment.

Mentally yoga reduces anxiety by calming the mind and inducing a state of calm. It helps lift depression through the release of endorphins as all exercise does but also helps by making us more aware of our thoughts while being less attached and identified with them. It is in the quiet meditative state that insights and solutions often appear, when we stop clinging to the story and creating more angst around it. We allow ourselves space, a pause, a step back from the thinking mind. We also get more in tune with our emotions through being aware of the body. Through stretching and movement we also release tension, tightness, stress and lingering trauma responses from our bodies. In this way yoga also promotes mental health and healing, it enhances self-regulation and calms the nervous system.

It enhances the quality of our lives – work, relationships, healthy choices etc – by making us more present, not only on the mat but in our daily lives. This Enhances self-awareness, creativity, more presence with others, greater clarity and the wisdom to make choices that align with our values rather than our egos. It makes us more conscious of ourselves, our thoughts and emotions. It brings us into the deeper dimension of who we truly are, beyond thought, the ever eternal witness.

So yoga is a portal into presence. It is a tool in the evolution of consciousness. It is healing physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

All you need is a mat and an open mind.

Embody the power of peace!