Yoga and Meditation

    I attend yoga classes once or twice a week, depending on how hectic work is .I used to practice yoga on my own but I felt like I needed a bit of guidance from a professional yoga instructor. So last year I came across a poster that said there was a lady who gave yoga classes around our area, I gave her a call and started attending her yoga classes. Now I am more in love with yoga than I have ever been and I try to make as much time as I can to practice it, even when I cant attend my  classes I practice at home. The benefits of  yoga are incredible, I will discuss them later on. I also practice meditation which has helped me a lot with anxiety and also helps declutter my mind. Practising yoga and meditation has done wonders for my mind and body. These are some of the benefits of  yoga and meditation;

*Regular yoga practice helps reduce stress responses in the body.
*Meditation is also an effective stress reducer that is used to help reduce, anxiety, panic disorders and agoraphobia(Unnatural fear of certain places and situations).
*Yoga poses focus on stretching and lengthening the muscles. Increased flexibility will help you with daily movements such as lifting and bending.
*Both yoga and meditation improve mental focus and provide a general feeling of well-being. Meditation provides an emotional boost through deep relaxation and it can be done anywhere. I usually pick a quiet place in the house and meditate for 20 minutes in the morning and before I go to bed.
*Yoga and meditation bring inner peace. Inner peace  refers to a specific state of being mentally and spiritually  at peace with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong during phases of stress.
*Yoga practice tones our body muscles and also makes them strong which helps improve our body posture when we sit, sleep or walk.
*Meditation helps you sleep easily.I meditate 30 minutes before I sleep and I have noticed that I fall asleep much easier after meditating and I wake up feeling refreshed.
*Meditation helps with relaxation and rejuvenation of the mind and body.
*Meditation practice helps regulate mood and anxiety disorders.

The pose I did on this picture is a variation of the wheel pose.

For more information on yoga and meditation benefits visit;
www.artofliving.org
www.thefitindian.com