Why I practice yoga and why you should too

In the wintertime, yoga can be a valuable way to introduce movement. Often, you can choose your own practice, whether an active flow or a slow stretch, with effects that run deeply. Whilst now is the perfect time to establish this habit, during the colder and slower months of winter, yoga is something that, once you start, and once you really involve yourself with all its different parts, you take into your life every day in more ways than you would expect.

Most obviously, yoga has a wide range of physical benefits, depending on the type of yoga you choose. Some of the main ones include vinyasa, yin, power, and restorative yoga.

Yin yoga can also be great for strength, as holding a pose for an extended period can target certain muscles that do not often experience such levels of work

In vinyasa, also known as flow yoga, poses are synchronised with the breath and follow a pattern. This is a great starting point, as it is relatively active with a wide range of poses (or asanas), and helps to develop your balance. It is often very guided and can show you what sort of movement you prefer and what you want to work on.

Alternatively, yin yoga is very slow, holding poses for up to five minutes. This relies on gravity to get deeper into stretches and is great for increasing flexibility and connection to the body. Yin yoga can also be great for strength, as holding a pose for an extended period can target certain muscles that do not often experience such levels of work. Similarly, restorative yoga is also very slow, even holding poses for longer, and aims to down-regulate the nervous system, as well as for recuperation and relaxation of the body.

Yoga helps to clear the mind by shifting focus onto your body and movements rather than your thoughts

In power yoga, as the name suggests, the movements are more intense and active, with much quicker flows and sequences. This is great for strength and cardio, and anyone who enjoys a more intense workout. There are also some similar modes, such as hot yoga (yoga done in a very warm room), and yoga-lates (a mix of yoga and pilates).

In our day-to-day lives, most of us don’t really acknowledge or connect with our bodies. Instead, we are either caught up in what we are doing or in mental chatter and rumination. Yoga is often described as the connection between the body and the mind, especially in slower practices. Through holding different poses, we can begin to connect to different areas of the body and feel sensations that were otherwise hidden from us. Because of this, yoga helps to clear the mind by shifting focus onto your body and movements rather than your thoughts. At the beginning of a class, instructors will often tell you to leave anything from outside the room at the door to be able to fully focus on the practice. By making the effort to turn up to classes, you are showing a commitment to yourself, and also allowing yourself to rest without guilt – especially in savasana, or corpse pose, at the end of a session.

The effects of the physical and mental practice can improve your demeanour and the way you carry yourself

At face value, yoga seems to be about the physical movements and poses. Even some inclusion of mental connection can be limited to the time you spend on the mat. However, yoga is also something that you take with you into your daily life. The effects of the physical and mental practice can improve your demeanour and the way you carry yourself, as well as boost your confidence and give you the ability to stay calm and be content with anything that approaches you. In traditional yoga and yoga philosophy, there are also aspects of yoga completely removed from the mat. Meditation can also be included here, often involving breathwork (or pranayama), which is another valuable tool to add to your general practice.

One of the key advantages of yoga is that you have the power to choose how you want your movement to look. As a great starting point, and even for the bulk of your practice, there are obviously yoga classes, both in-person and online. In-person is useful for starting out as it gives you an introduction into the kinds of poses to expect, and also helps to create a routine, whilst online videos are great for fitting in movement around a busy schedule. Once you’ve been to and followed enough classes, you can even make your own sessions and flows. Independently, mornings and evenings are really valuable times to move, even just for five minutes to stretch the body out. This way, you can design the practice that works best for you and your needs.