Improved Technique at the Gym

One week after starting Yoga, I enrolled in a gym as well. Seeing the ways that my yoga classes impacted and related to my gym workouts shocked me. I previously saw yoga as nothing more than a stretch, but I’ve come to realize it is so much more than that.

For one, my flexibility has drastically improved. As the weeks have gone by, I’ve seen my body reach a level of flexibility I haven’t seen since my middle school dance days. This flexibility has helped my form while weight lifting, which is crucial to preventing injury. The methods of control I learn in my yoga classes directly translate to keeping a stable control while working with weights.

Breathing is another HUGE improvement I’ve seen thanks to yoga. Yoga instructors probably remind the class to breathe at least 100 times in an hour, so much so that it stays with us even after class is over. At the gym, I have improved my endurance by simply breathing through the movements. Before picking up yoga, my breathing was all over the place and I was huffing and puffing every time I worked out.

Happier Outlook On Life

In just a month of doing yoga, I have seen a tremendous improvement in my mental health and overall outlook on life. Regardless of the type of yoga class, internal and external reflection is always a key point that is taught. Being thankful throughout my yoga practice and ending each class with Savasana has made me a happier person overall.

The Yoga Journal writes that Savasana, when practiced every day, “conditions the body to release stress and can improve your sense of physical and emotional well-being.” In just one month of yoga classes ending with a Savasana session, I have become more patient and capable of handling stress from being an online masters student. I am always amazed at how much healthier my mental health has gotten in the past month thanks to yoga and the friendly instructors at Body4Yoga.

Better Sleep

Before starting yoga, I had a very hard time falling asleep each night. As I mentioned earlier, my routine changed from being a college student with a strict daily schedule to living with my parents and being the creator of my own schedule. With this freedom in my schedule came a lot of late night Netflix binges and a terrible sleep schedule.

Yoga has really helped my sleep schedule get back to normal. I choose to take my classes in the afternoon, so when I get back home I am coming off what my instructor calls “the yoga high”. This relaxed state is a great time for me to enjoy my dinner, take a shower, and truly wind down from the day. After working a sweat at yoga but also simultaneously treating my body to healthy breathing exercises and meditation, I am definitely ready to hit the sheets at a normal bedtime (which for me, is around 11 P.M.).

Quarantine was initially rough for me, with so many parts of my life basically getting uprooted and drastically changed. I “graduated” virtually and moved back in with my parents after being away for 4 years. Given that I used to walk at least two miles a day in my college campus, a sedentary routine at home shocked my body. I knew I had to stay active and healthy somehow, so I initially started doing Youtube workouts every day, a routine that quickly got boring. It wasn’t until I picked up Yoga that I truly started to see a difference in my physical and mental health. 

For a month now, I’ve been attending Yoga classes every week day at Body4Yoga, a local studio that family friends recommended. To mix up my routine (I tend to get bored of doing the same thing every day), I take different classes each day. Hot Yoga Vinyasa Flow, PiYo, Power Yoga, and Hatha Vinyasa, all different and wonderful in their own ways, have truly changed my lifestyle for the better. I encourage anyone struggling with finding balance in their life or interested in building body strength while also nourishing their minds to try yoga. 

Improved Technique at the Gym

One week after starting Yoga, I enrolled in a gym as well. Seeing the ways that my yoga classes impacted and related to my gym workouts shocked me. I previously saw yoga as nothing more than a stretch, but I’ve come to realize it is so much more than that. 

For one, my flexibility has drastically improved. As the weeks have gone by, I’ve seen my body reach a level of flexibility I haven’t seen since my middle school dance days. This flexibility has helped my form while weight lifting, which is crucial to preventing injury. The methods of control I learn in my yoga classes directly translate to keeping a stable control while working with weights. 

Breathing is another HUGE improvement I’ve seen thanks to yoga. Yoga instructors probably remind the class to breathe at least 100 times in an hour, so much so that it stays with us even after class is over. At the gym, I have improved my endurance by simply breathing through the movements. Before picking up yoga, my breathing was all over the place and I was huffing and puffing every time I worked out. 

Happier Outlook On Life

In just a month of doing yoga, I have seen a tremendous improvement in my mental health and overall outlook on life. Regardless of the type of yoga class, internal and external reflection is always a key point that is taught. Being thankful throughout my yoga practice and ending each class with Savasana has made me a happier person overall. 

The Yoga Journal writes that Savasana, when practiced every day, “conditions the body to release stress and can improve your sense of physical and emotional well-being.” In just one month of yoga classes ending with a Savasana session, I have become more patient and capable of handling stress from being an online masters student. I am always amazed at how much healthier my mental health has gotten in thepast month thanks to yoga and the friendly instructors at Body4Yoga. 

Better Sleep 

Before starting yoga, I had a very hard time falling asleep each night. As I mentioned earlier, my routine changed from being a college student with a strict daily schedule to living with my parents and being the creator of my own schedule. With this freedom in my schedule came a lot of late night Netflix binges and a terrible sleep schedule. 

Yoga has really helped my sleep schedule get back to normal. I choose to take my classes in the afternoon, so when I get back home I am coming off what my instructor calls “the yoga high”. This relaxed state is a great time for me to enjoy my dinner, take a shower, and truly wind down from the day. After working a sweat at yoga but also simultaneously treating my body to healthy breathing exercises and meditation, I am definitely ready to hit the sheets at a normal bedtime (which for me, is around 11 P.M.).