Five Reasons to do Yoga

“Yoga” seems to be popping up everywhere these days. Classes are held at just about every gym and new studios are spouting up in towns large and small. But just what makes yoga such a popular activity? Well, it’s relaxing, improves your muscle coordination and helps you connect with your inner self. There’s many different types & levels of yoga available, from intermediate to advanced courses.

Here’s a look at five benefits to doing yoga and why you should consider adopting yoga as part of your regular exercise routine:

1. Meet New Friends

One of the biggest benefits to doing yoga is that it’s an activity that gets you out of your home and potentially opens the door to meeting new friends. Think of your yoga classes as a community of people that possibly share the same interests as you do. Our community at the Wilmington Yoga Center is ful of people from all walks of life that always have a smile on their faces. And since we are located above Tidal Creek Healthfood Cafe & Grocery, grabbing an after-class smoothie or lunch is a great way to connect & laugh with your fellow students & friends. Signing up for a yoga class can help you meet new friends, especially if you’re in a pre-natal yoga class where you and your fellow classmates share another common characteristic – pregnancy.

2. Muscle Strength and Flexibility

Yoga isn’t about lifting weights, doing crunches or burning calories on the treadmill, so you might not think that it has a lot of benefits for your muscles and muscle flexibility. If you’re among those that think this way, well, you’re wrong. Yoga improves muscle flexibility and can help you strengthen your muscles, to boot. You might not be sweating like a grease monkey after a yoga workout, but your muscles will thank you later. Don’t think that you don’t get a great workout from yoga.

3. Detox

Yoga stretches the muscles. And when you stretch out muscles, you’re also releasing toxins that are stored within the body. So yes, yoga is a sort of detox and it isn’t out of the ordinary for people to share feelings of emotional relief following a yoga session. Twisting and stretching also moves toxins out of your other organs to help with this feeling as well. So yes, while yoga is a great workout, its also good for the body and mind.

4. Relaxation

It’s said that yoga is good for the mind, body and soul. Yoga isn’t a strenuous workout, per say, but more of a relaxing workout. That’s right – while your instructor is leading you through different routines, stretches and exercises, you should be relaxed. How about that for an exercise? One that is good for you and relaxing.

5. Improve Confidence

This final benefit of doing yoga ties in somewhat with all the other benefits of the exercise. That is, doing yoga improves your confidence. The reasons for this are two-fold. As we previously mentioned, stretching releases toxins from the muscles and organs, which in turn improves your mood and emotions. This has a trickle down effect on your confidence. Furthermore, it’s said that exercising first thing every day is arguably one of the best ways to ensure you’re off to a good day – because people just generally feel better about themselves, whether they’re doing yoga or some other exercise. And finally, nothing improves your confidence quite like seeing results from all the work you’re putting in. And you’ll unquestionably see a payoff from doing yoga if you stick with it for good.