| Have you noticed the growing trend of people who | | | | natural, unprocessed foods. |
| practice yoga? Maybe you have thought about taking | | | | In addition, yoga encourages you to be conscious of |
| a yoga class but have reservations about the benefits | | | | how you eat. Prior to eating, you bless your food and |
| of practicing? | | | | Give Thanks to the hands and souls who worked to |
| There are many reasons why you may think about | | | | grow your food and deliver it to your local |
| starting yoga. From my experience as a Sivananda | | | | supermarket. This sense of reverence and respect for |
| Yoga Teacher and based on talking with my yoga | | | | what you eat and how you eat means you take time |
| students here are seven common reasons why you | | | | to select foods which nurture and nourish your body. |
| may want to start to learn yoga. Maybe one of these | | | | Instead of mindlessly eating foods, on -the-go, or in |
| reasons applies to you. | | | | front of the TV, from a yogic perspective, you |
| Seven Most Common Reasons Why You Start Yoga | | | | consciously chew each morsel, the more you chew |
| 1. Yoga for Stress Relief. | | | | and take time to enjoy and digest your food, and the |
| A gentle yoga practice at the end of a stressful day is | | | | deeper is your sense of fulfillment from eating. |
| the ideal way to unwind and relieve tension from your | | | | 5. Yoga for Personal Development |
| body. This has to be the most popular reason why | | | | Underpinning the physical aspects of yoga is a |
| you start yoga. You're life is busy and full of conflicting | | | | philosophy and way of living your life which guides you |
| demands. The constant hustle and bustle of modern | | | | towards enlightenment. The ultimate goal of yoga is to |
| day life means you have trouble switching off and | | | | unite with the divine and live a life of harmony and inner |
| relaxing. The essence of yoga is to encourage you to | | | | calm. The Yoga Sutras offers you a broad range of |
| relax, take time out of your busy schedule and be | | | | ethical and practical guidelines to living a healthy |
| present and focus on your breath. This instantly calms | | | | harmonious life. Many students gain inner strength, |
| your mind and relaxes your body. | | | | clarity and awareness of themselves through studying |
| 2. Yoga for Back Pain Relief | | | | The Yoga Sutras |
| Have you ever suffered back pain or experienced | | | | 6. Yoga for Energy |
| sore, tense muscles? Yoga exercises are designed to | | | | Have you ever felt tired and zapped of energy? Yoga |
| gently stretch your muscles, increase the range of | | | | exercises can be used to stimulate and energise your |
| flexibility in your joints and bring suppleness to your | | | | mind and body. Blocked energy is released through the |
| spine. For example, yoga poses, such as the cobra, the | | | | chakras, which correspond to key nerve centres or |
| locust or seated forward bend, all help to soothe your | | | | plexuses in the body. As the blocked energy is |
| aching back. | | | | released you feel energised and revitalised. |
| 3. Yoga for Inner Peace and Calm | | | | 7. Yoga for Health |
| If you are going through an emotional crisis or | | | | Yoga offers you a truly holistic way of living your life. |
| recovering from a severe illness, chances are you feel | | | | The physical postures promote a strong and healthy |
| unhappy and unsettled about your situation. When you | | | | body, the philosophical guidelines offer you a simple |
| feel unhappy or down, your mind is agitated and it | | | | natural way to experience life, meditation practices and |
| takes longer for the body to heal. Yoga breathing | | | | breathing exercises all promote vitality and ease and |
| exercises and meditation practices help to promote a | | | | comfort within your body. |
| sense of ease and calm within the body and mind. | | | | As you can see, there are many reasons why you |
| 4. Yoga for Weight Loss | | | | may consider practicing yoga. All reasons are valid. If |
| Yoga is the ideal exercise to encourage you to lose | | | | you are thinking of starting yoga, take your time to find |
| weight and develop positive eating habits. Yoga | | | | a qualified yoga teacher and enjoy your yoga journey. |
| philosophy promotes a vegetarian diet based on | | | | |