why yoga?

TiffanyCruikshankYoga my inspiration.

right now my favorite form of exercise is yoga. so I’ll start with reasons why I enjoy practicing yoga. first, it is unlike other activities in that there really is no competition. something yoga teaches you is you are exactly where you should be so there is no competition even with yourself (the hard part). there are so many different types of yoga styles that you can choose from so every day your practice can be different depending on what you feel like. you take steps to achieve deeper poses but there is no ultimate level in yoga that you can say you reached. it is kind of like there is no limit to the amount of knowledge your brain can store. the process is a circle. you are where you are and the main thing is progress. all you have to do is begin and continue.

you can chose to do yoga for the physical, spiritual, mental, or emotional benefits, you name it and you can probably use yoga to achieve it. it does whatever you need it to do that minute, hour or that day. one of the main reasons I love yoga is that it teaches and almost forces me to be present. something so simple yet difficult to achieve for most people in our hectic lives not to mention the perpetual stream of thoughts that goes on in your head every second of every day. yoga is basically learning how to breathe and controlling that breath to reach a state of full consciousness. so it is far more than doing funny looking poses.

i enjoy how in tune you can get with your body and feel every single movement in each pose. it brings you back to the basics. it can be very calming and centering which living in this world is something to seek and cherish. lastly, yoga is practicing non-judgement. it is very hard, especially being a beginner, to not feel like you're the worst one in the room and quickly have all these negative thoughts come in to your head. or the reverse...if you are experienced with yoga you are not truly doing yoga if you are passing judgements on others around you, on or off the mat! there truly should be zero competition with yourself and others. pushing your body into a move it is not ready for that day does nothing but harm and the best practice would be to just let go and accept where you are at.

simply staying in a posture for how long the teacher tells you does not necessarily mean you are fully engaged either. it takes time is what i have learned from my experience to reach all levels of awareness. at first you will most likely be "getting through it" and trying to just survive the hour session and not give up. but as you continue your practice it will get much more easier and quieter in your mind so that you do have room to observe your thoughts, your breathe and your body. why are thoughts important? thoughts become words and words become actions and actions become habits...and habits become who you are and what you value.

yoga helps you comb through your thoughts after a stressful day or anxious morning. it forces you to continually face your shit (harsh, i know) so that you can discard those feelings of fear, insecurity, unworthiness or whatever it may be, past or future, and focus on the now. this voice is neutral and will help you feel a little more balanced at the end of your practice. this is why it is a circle, these thoughts that make you you will never be completely gone but with practice you can tame them and accept them so that you can feel a little peace of mind. the best part is you don't need a mat to practice non judgement, all you need is yourself. yoga is for everyone, anywhere, at any time. it is simple & free, as it should be.

tid bits of advice

• it is best to practice sunrise or sunset so morning before breakfast or evening after dinner
• practice about 2 hours after or before a meal ideally
• helps to form a habit if you use same location, same time
• switch it up! bored with a routine, find a new one. (feel free to message me if you need new ideas/new videos)
• don’t be afraid to experiment and move wherever your body takes you! easier once you've established the yoga basics to try your own thing
• always remember there is tomorrow

some benefits to practicing yoga

1. happiness; increase GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) chemicals in the brain. people who have high anxiety typically have low levels of GABA in the brain. 
2.  aches be gone!; it reduces little aches and pains you have which only accumulate as you age so please do not think yoga is a “young and fit” people thing. if you take pain meds on a daily basis this might help you out a ton. the poses improve your posture and strengthen back muscles to keep those dreadful aches away.
3. sleep; like all activity it helps you sleep better at night. if you have insomnia try doing a simple 30-45 minute yoga series before bed daily. it helps you calm down and relax so you can turn off your brain and get a good night’s rest.
4. confidence booster; it will give you some maaajor self love. studies show it increases your body satisfaction. the key is you are more aware of how your body feels and what it can do than how it looks.
5. strength training; all you use in yoga is your own body. it is great for sculpting and toning since you're using your own body weight to move into different positions. 
6. stress reliever; my favorite. if you’re sick of feeling tired and moody this is for you. the high you get after practicing is incredible.

here is a very thorough list of all the benefits to yoga:
http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/beginnersguide/yogabenefits.asp

i can't talk about yoga without recommending this awesome & insightful documentary:
http://vimeo.com/59966679