Free your mind.

Today marks the the beginning of what may, in fact, be the most stressful week I've had in a long time. (Sigh). However, something that gave me such inspiration and peace of mind yesterday was my yoga class, taught by the lovely Jenna Knickerbocker. Since I ran 5 miles the day before, I decided to treat myself with this class because I was feeling in dire need of a spiritual lift; my mind was so cluttered that I needed to just dedicate an hour of my time to not only physical exercise, but also meditation, or as I like to call it, mental exercise. I've been doing yoga off and on for about 4 years now (oh how I fondly I remember my first class...) and I have to say it never fails to surprise me. Each class is totally different, yet the feeling I have leaving the room is always one of immense spirituality and peacefulness. It never fails to relax and focus my mind, something I highly recommend to those feeling tense or uneasy. It's a different kind of workout, yet even though you may not be gaining all the physical benefits that say running provides, you gain so much more mentally. It's a very appealing alternative to me and I highly suggest giving it a try if you haven't already.

A little background:

The core components of yoga are Poses and Breathing. Yoga poses, also called postures, are a series of movements designed to increase strength and flexibility. Poses range from lying on the floor while completely relaxed to difficult postures that may have you stretching your physical limits. Controlling your breathing is an important part of yoga. In yoga, breath signifies your vital energy. Yoga teaches that controlling your breathing can help you control your body and quiet your mind.

Some pointers for first timers:

You may want to laugh. It's normal, but it can come off as offensive to not only the instructor but also the other yogi's. Try to be respectful, but if you can't hold it in, you can always cover it with a cough!

Everyone can experience the class/session in their own way. There is no "correct" way to do yoga in the sense that no matter what level you are, the class is yours for the taking; don't let others dictate your experience. 

Bring your own mat. Unless you are broke (like me) and don't have one, in which case, BRING A TOWEL!
Have fun with it. Get into it. What you put in is what you get out, quite literally. 

How yoga can benefit you:

Stress reduction. With its quiet, precise movements, yoga draws your focus away from your busy, chaotic day and toward calm as you move your body through poses that require balance and concentration.

Increased fitness. As you learn and refine new poses, you may enjoy improved balance, flexibility, range of motion and strength. And this means you're less likely to injure yourself in other physical endeavors or in your daily activities.

Management of chronic health conditions. Yoga might help with a variety of health conditions, such as cancer, depression, pain, anxiety and insomnia, by helping with sleep problems, fatigue and mood. Yoga also can help reduce heart rate and blood pressure.

Weight loss. If you're overweight or have binge-eating disorder, yoga may help you make the healthy lifestyle changes necessary to gain control of your eating and drop those extra pounds.

In conclusion, yoga is great for you. 

Namaste. 

(http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/yoga/CM00004)