A Regular Yoga Practice Provides Mental and Physical Health Benefits
By Steve Poehler
My favorite sports talk show host, Colin Cowherd, once said: “If yoga was created in the United States, it would be called ‘stretching.’”
As a long-time listener of Colin’s show—and a long-time practitioner of yoga—I had a nice chuckle at that comment.
Yoga is (wrongfully) perceived sometimes as “just stretching.” While I often agree with Colin, in this case, I disagree with his take on this form of exercise.
It is so much more than “just stretching.”
WHAT IS YOGA?
From Wikipedia, “modern yoga” is defined as, “a physical activity consisting largely of postures called asanas, often connected by flowing sequences called vinyasas, sometimes accompanied by the breathing exercises of pranayama, and usually ending with a period of relaxation or meditation. It is often known simply as yoga, despite the existence of multiple older traditions of yoga.”
There are more than 100 variations (or “schools”), from Anusara, ashtanga, Bikram, Hatha, hot yoga, Iyengar, restorative, and (my personal favorite) Vinyasa. (Special shout out for this list to Gaiam, a company whose mission is “to make yoga, fitness, and wellness accessible to all.”)
Some people also practice it as a religious or spiritual experience.
Speculation has it that the form of exercise originated in India around the sixth and fifth centuries, B.C.—a far cry from modern America, right Colin?
WHY PRACTICE YOGA?
According to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), “maintaining a regular yoga practice can provide physical and mental benefits.”
Among the numerous physical benefits, it can lessen chronic pain, lower blood pressure, reduce insomnia, increase flexibility and muscle strength and tone, improve energy, reduce weight, increase cardiovascular health, and prevent injuries.
On the mental side of things, yoga is one of the best ways we can manage stress, which is “known to have devastating effects on the body and mind,” per the AOA. It incorporates meditation, breathing, and physical movements to “help improve a person’s mental well-being.”
Personally, I try to incorporate two days of yoga per week into my workout routine. It helps improve my mood, cut down on anxiety and depression, and reduce stress. It is also a good, family-friendly activity to do with my wife and two daughters.
DO I NEED TO BE AN ‘EXPERT’ TO PRACTICE?
Sometimes when we conjure images of yoga, we see someone flipped upside down on their head, or perhaps a “yogi” (a practitioner of yoga) performing a challenging crow pose.
However, let me assure you that yoga is for everyone!
Flexibility is not my strength. When I first started practicing, I was awkward, fell out of poses regularly, and felt “bad” at it.
But like any new activity, with practice, I got better and now can hold my own with intermediate poses. (I will admit though that some of those “expert” poses still baffle me!)
You can certainly work your way up to those difficult poses, but it’s simple to get started and learn easy moves. Trust me—it’s worth it!
WHERE DO I PRACTICE?
withOne of my favorite things is its ease of access. Really, all you need is a mat, workout clothes, water, and a little space. I personally enjoy using a yoga app on my phone and following along to an instructor at home.
Of course, in-person classes can be expensive but worthwhile, especially as you get started and if you need some extra motivation to stay on top of your practice regularly.
If you Google “yoga studios” around you (unless you live in a remote area), likely you will come across many options. I occasionally go to classes at CorePower Yoga and have found their multiple class offerings to be challenging and rewarding.
Most studios provide different payment options, such as a per-class drop in cost, a multiple-visit punch card, or a monthly subscription.
Again, nothing can substitute a well-trained instructor and taking a class in a studio, in person. Just note that it can be pricey, from $15 to $20 per class on up.
For some of us, taking workout classes with other people can also be awkward or anxiety-provoking. I do recommend taking at least one class when starting off, so an instructor can help make sure you learn the poses correctly and are using good form. But again, I love practicing at home now.
For those at-home options, you can purchase a DVD, watch “Yoga On Demand” on your TV, or download one of the countless apps onto your phone. (I use “Yoga Studio,” which costs about $20 for a yearly subscription—not bad! I think it has other additional add-ons that cost extra, but the basic subscription includes beginning, intermediate, and expert classes, ranging from about 10 minutes to an hour.)
Other app options (some paid, some free) include Yoga.com, Pocket Yoga, Global Yoga Academy, 5 Minute Yoga, FitStar Yoga, and Daily Yoga.
CorePower (and perhaps some other studios) even offers “yoga on demand” for $20 per month. This gives you the option to watch and follow along with a whole host of their classes—on pretty much any device, all from the comfort of your own home.
WHAT GEAR IS NEEDED?
As for gear, it too can get expensive, but that’s only if you splurge for official fancy products.
In reality, though, it has to be one of the cheapest sports and activities around.
All I have is a mat and block (for those trickier poses)—that’s it. A lot of people use a yoga strap or a foam wedge. If you frequent a studio, a mat bag will come in handy.
Per a quick Amazon search, blocks start at only about $6, and mats range from $12 on up.
I started doing yoga with just regular workout shorts and a cut-off T-shirt. Over time, I have purchased and loved my official “yoga shorts,” but I still use normal cut-off workout shirts.
Yoga is a great “traveling” sport, too, since your mat doesn’t take up too much space in your suitcase. You can even practice it in your hotel room while on vacation. For me, nothing is better than doing yoga outside when the weather is nice.
CONCLUSION
I can’t reiterate enough how awesome it is to practice yoga. While some people might think that it’s not an intense enough workout, or it’s not for men, or whatever excuse you might come up with, I can vouch for how much it has benefited me.
Yoga has something for everyone, and it truly is for everyone. Heck, even “manly” National Football League players are finding out the many benefits of a good yoga practice.
As they say at the end of everyone’s yoga session, “Namaste.”
Steve Poehler is a father, a husband, and a huge sports fan. A former sports writer, Steve is now a CPA who spent five years working at a public accounting firm before becoming a Senior Financial Analyst for a nonprofit organization, the Catholic Archdiocese of Portland. Steve loves to work out, be outdoors, and follow sports, including his beloved Denver Broncos. Steve lives in Portland, Oregon, with his family.
