A daily Yoga practice offers a practitioner many benefits. These benefits range from an increased range of flexibility to a more positive outlook on life. On a physical level, a daily practice of asanas, pranayama exercises and meditation will energize your body and calm your mind by balancing the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. Of course, a regular practice of asanas increases flexibility and muscular strength and helps to prevent injuries due to misalignment and repetitive stress. There are even Yoga postures that help to undue some of the tension and stress that ultimately lead to Carpel Tunnel Syndrome!
Some of the less visible but equally important benefits of a daily practice of Yoga include a sense of calm, peace and overall well-being. This is especially true if the asanas are practiced in conjunction with breathing exercises and a period of meditation at the end of practice. Many dedicated students experience relief from anxiety, depression, anger, and compulsive behavior after practicing Yoga. This relief is due, in part, to the balancing effect of the postures and breathing exercises on the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.
You may find it difficult to dedicate thirty to sixty minutes a day to doing Yoga. Many of us are quite busy simply keeping all of the different elements of our lives afloat and on track. However, a regular practice of Yoga poses, breathing exercises and a brief period of meditation will help to calm you and energize you for the day ahead. A practice as short as twenty minutes a day will noticeably increase your flexibility and strength.
As you begin to realize the benefit of practicing daily, it may become easier to streamline some other activities in order to schedule in your daily Yoga practice. If you find that it is difficult to get to a studio every day, there are a number of websites that offer Yoga classes online for a nominal monthly charge. These websites will allow you to practice at your convenience and in the comfort of your own home.
Imbuing a daily Yoga practice with a sense of dedication towards increasing your own well-being, in order to serve the world by offering a small act of kindness or compassion on a daily basis, will give your Yoga practice a broader sense of purpose and meaning. By offering and dedicating your practice to the upliftment and betterment of the world, you will find meaning and purpose far beyond your own self. For instance, you may find that the simplicity of bringing a smile to one person’s face will go a long way towards uplifting your own heart and will, ultimately, bring a smile to your own face.