How yoga benefits your mind

The benefits of yoga are well-documented, but you don’t have to be a full-on yogi to get the goods. Yoga is as much about your mind as it is about your body, so you’ll start reaping the mental benefits from your very first class – even if you can’t yet touch your toes. And yes, eventually you’ll get those long, lean muscles. Read on to discover some of the benefits of practicing yoga regularly.

Stop competing

It’s easy to compare yourself to other people, especially when you’re exercising in a group setting. But with yoga, you’re encouraged to go at your own pace and listen to your body, rather than worrying about how far the woman on the mat next to you can stretch. It might take a while, but you’ll likely find that over time you compare yourself less to others as your appreciation for your own body grows.

Make time for yourself

It can be hard to make time in your schedule just for yourself. This is especially true if you wait for time to appear in your calendar, rather than scheduling a particular activity that you want to do.

So if you gave up team sports in high school or respond with a blank stare when people ask what your hobbies are, yoga can be a great way to tick off a few of the boxes for a full and healthy life. Not only will you be slotting in some exercise, you’ll also be taking time for yourself. Whereas other forms of exercise don’t always feel so nurturing at the time, a good yoga session will leave you feeling relaxed and recharged.

Improve self-esteem

Partly as a result of the benefits already mentioned, yoga can improve chronically low self-esteem. Yoga helps you to tune into yourself and listen to your inner voice, while also feeling like part of something bigger. If you practise regularly, it can help you access that part of you that believes you’re a good and worthwhile person – just briefly at first, and then for more sustained periods of time. More generally, becoming stronger and fitter often has a domino effect, boosting feelings of positivity, confidence and self-worth.

Encourage a healthy lifestyle

You won’t even feel like eating that greasy burger after a yoga session (well, not as much). Instead, you’ll be more inclined to choose food that nourishes your body and make other healthy choices too. Yoga builds your mental strength while also encouraging you to care for your body even more. As a result, you may find that without too much effort your diet improves, you exercise more regularly or you finally break an unhealthy habit.

Reduce stress

Our minds are constantly active, dashing between worrying about the future and rehashing past events. It’s rare to have moments where we’re completely present in the moment, focusing on one thing. Yoga brings your mind into the present moment by helping you to focus on what your body is doing and pay attention to your breath.

The result is a much calmer mind, and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in your system. This in turn will help prevent and manage stress-related illnesses. Better yet, if you practice regularly you’ll find you’ll be increasingly able to invite this more relaxed version of you into other areas of your life, rather than leaving her on your yoga mat.

Improve your relationships

For one thing, you’ll likely meet some like-minded people at your class if you show up regularly, so attending a yoga class can help you make new friends. For another, as yoga gradually lowers your stress levels and improves your sense of self-worth, your relationships will tend to improve as a result. 

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