The Mindset Of Yoga

By Menna

“Yoga is not an expression of who you are; it’s about determining the nature of who you wish to be”

-Sadhguru

Over the past few decades, yoga has proven to be one of the healthiest practices for both body and soul. It includes exercise, self-regulation, relaxation, and mindful attention and breathing. These are all must haves, to be able to lead a healthy balanced life in what is a relentlessly fast paced world.

If you’ve been practicing yoga already, I’m sure you wouldn’t really need proof. You feel the impact within you, and every time you go through something stressful, you go back to your yoga mat… and breathe. However, lots of studies have proved that a yoga practice can have a huge impact especially when dealing with depression and anxiety.

Yoga, which means union, creates connections in our body and enhances the flow of energy within it. It also helps our nervous system to slow down resulting in immediate relaxation.#

But what if you’re in a situation that doesn’t allow you to go back to your yoga mat? Well, the only solution would be to apply what you learned in your everyday life. But “how?” you may ask yourself. well, we’re here to spill the beans and enlighten you.

When you’re faced with a stressful situation, the first thing you should do is control your breathing. Basic, right?

It’s also one of the first things taught in every yoga training! Usually when we’re nervous about something, it’s because we’re unable to see the full picture, instead we’re focusing on a very small detail that, in fact, might not matter that much. By controlling your breathing, you’re giving your mind enough space to redirect your attention to what really matters (aka the bigger picture).

Yoga also supports us in leading a slower more enriched life.  Most of the time, we’re in the moment, but we’re not really living the moment. Give it some thought and go back to a specific time when were you so caught up in your work that you forgot to actually be mentally present, OR when was the last time you actively listened to that friend of yours who was giving you an update about their life? Yoga is a good reminder to mentally and physically be there for others.

Whilst we’re on the subject, sometimes it's hard to be there for others when you're suffering from insomnia. Not having enough sleep is not a very healthy beginning to the day, is it? Well, there is a study done at Johns Hopkins university that proved yoga can help you sleep better. All you have to do is choose the right style of yoga that suits you. It is suggested to try hatha-yoga as a daily bedtime routine. Try the corpse pose as well as the lying down butterfly pose. And remember, focus on your breathing and be present!

There are good and bad days in life, correct, but as long as we’re trying our very best to be healthier and happier, then we can face everything life throws at us! Never stop discovering yourself and new ways to cope. Slow down, look at the bigger picture, and go at your own pace!