My New Happy: Five Reasons To Try Yoga

Monday, January 23, 2017

Five Reasons To Try Yoga



Most of the time I enjoy exercising, and I've tried just about every kind.  Except spin class.  My knees are too scared of spin.

A few years ago I tried yoga at home using a DVD, and it was kind of...meh.  So when my husband suggested it last summer, I was less than enthusiastic.  And a little surprised.  My hubby is more of the "go hard until you drop" type of exerciser.  But he had heard good things from a friend, and thought it might help his lower back pain.

Willing to give it another try, I did a little research, and found a studio nearby.  Soon we were signed up for our first Hatha class.  With yoga mats and water bottles in hand, we arrived to find the room...hot.  Like summer in the desert hot.  Apparently I missed that part during registration.  Oops.

Never mind, because an hour later, we were hooked, and we've been going twice a week ever since. Hot yoga or not, this is why we love it:

One.  Our flexibility and balance have improved.  This is a big one, especially as you get older. Nobody wants to fall down and break a hip.  Okay, I'm not that old.  But I don't want to break my arm either.  On the first day, I couldn't stand on one leg for more than a few seconds without falling over. Now I can do all of the poses, and hold them for 30 seconds or more.  They may not look pretty, but I'm doing them.

Two.  My blood pressure and anxiety have gone down, quite a bit.  I attribute it to the deep breathing and calming of the mind that occurs during yoga practice.  I'll most likely never be able to go off my blood pressure medication, since things like college tuition and owning a business are part of my every day life.  But yoga definitely helps.

We're a hot, sweaty mess.  

Three
.  We both feel much stronger.  Holding poses works the muscles, and I really notice the difference when I do strength training workouts.  My husband's lower back has steadily improved, and my body is doing things it couldn't do a few months ago.

Four.  Better sleep.  Peri menopause (mine, not his - although mine probably causes him some sleepless nights) messes with your sleep patterns.  I feel more peaceful when I lay down at night, and if I wake up at 2am, practicing yoga breathing puts me right back to dream land.

Five.  It's fun.  The hour flies by, and we leave the studio with lifted spirits.  We've never exercised together before, but we enjoy a little competition.  It's fun to see who can do a better standing bow pose.  Sadly, it's currently my husband, dang it.  But I will prevail!

We'll probably never be yogi's, but we are healthier, stronger, and more relaxed.  Namaste!

37 comments:

  1. I LOVE Yoga and I LOVE that Mr. does it wth you!!! So many benefits. Have a great week ahead beautiful!!

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  2. I'm totally in for trying yoga this year. I love that y'all are doing it together.

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  3. I love yoga and have been trying to get my husband to join me for years! So fun that you are doing it together!

    Jill
    Doused In Pink

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    Replies
    1. I was surprised that it was his idea. We keep each other motivated!

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  4. James and I do spin, of all things, together. Probably the exact opposite exercise of Yoga (you should really give it a chance, btw!). I love that you do it with your hubby. I've done yoga few times and find it boring, BUT I know it would be good for me for all the reasons you listed. How about you try spin and I'll try yoga.... HA!

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    1. Deal! Now I just have to find a spin class. I thought yoga was boring in the past, but I'm really enjoying it now.

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  5. Good for you! I have tried yoga a couple of times without success. I have never tried the Hot yoga so maybe that would be the one for me?

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    1. For me, the hot room helps me get stretched out quicker, so I feel like I can take full advantage of the hour.

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  6. I have been wanting to try yoga, just to increase my flexibility and to relax me. I have problems with anxiety from time to time. This sounds wonderful and I just love that you are your husband are doing yoga together! I don't know what the benefits of hot yoga are, but it sounds interesting!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

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    1. My son is a long distance runner, and he really likes yoga for stretching and flexibility!

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  7. I wished I could do yoga, I believe its great for relaxing!

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  8. Next year I decided I'm going to do Yoga...yep going to give myself a year of mentally preparing for it. :) But good to know that it does in fact improve flexibility, which is what I want to work on next.

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  9. When my husband is home we often do yoga together and also love it. We only discovered it about a year ago too. Now that he is in Hong Kong we sometimes manage to do it via FT together but it isn't the same thing.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  10. My sister tried yoga for anxiety, and is now a yoga teacher/master. Gotta love that. I have yet to try it, but boy, my blood pressure could use it!

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    1. Definitely good for the blood pressure. It would be fun for you to take a class from your sister!

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  11. Those are some really good arguments for it!

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  12. I really should try this! I think I'm scared to look stupid!

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    1. Haha. I was afraid of that too. But...the lights in the room are dim. And everyone is so worried about themselves, nobody even looks around!

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  13. I love yoga but haven't done it in a while. I need to find a new place closer to the new house.

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  14. Lana. .. you've sold me, I'm going to have to do it on line though. I don't really have the extra money or the time to get back and forth. Anything that helps with my balance is a great idea xox ♡

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    1. I think you would really enjoy it Launna. I've heard of a lot of great programs online!

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  15. I used to do Bikram yoga 2-3 days a week, but now that I’m an entrepreneur I don’t have the time or the money to keep up my practice; so I’ve incorporated a few youtube yoga classes to my schedule, and it’s truly life altering. Yoga is fun I love the feeling of doing something that makes me feel so good.

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    1. That is a drawback - it's pretty expensive to attend a class. I've heard there are great ones on youtube though. I feel so good when the hour is up! Thank you so much for stopping by!

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  16. I have heard that it really helps with breathing. I tried it many years ago with my mom - and did not like it that much - but I might have to give it a second chance.

    Lisa
    Daily Style Finds

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    1. Because of my high blood pressure, I often have a hard time getting a deep breath. Yoga has helped so much!

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  17. I love yoga so much! It's my go-to form of exercise. I agree with everything you said about it. Isn't it amazing that it really does help you feel less anxious?!

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    1. That's one of my favorite parts! Since we started going consistently, my anxiety is definitely better!

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  18. I'm totally going to yoga tomorrow and can't wait!

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