How Can Yoga Transform our Relationship with Life?

Amongst other things, yoga can be used to transform our relationship with life. In modern society, many of us often feel stressed or anxious. Thankfully, putting on a yoga top may be all that’s needed to calm a frantic mind and enjoy life to the full. In this article, we explore exactly how yoga can transform our relationship with life.

Reduces Stress and Anxiety

For a healthy relationship with life, it’s important to be happy. For those that suffer from anxiety or depression, happiness can feel tough to achieve. Thankfully, yoga can be used to reduce symptoms and better our mental health. During an anxiety attack, one of the most effective treatments is Yogic breathing. Simple to practice, rhythmic breathing is a natural way to help the body relax. To use Yogic breathing, start by finding a comfortable position. Gently close your eyes and breathe only through your nostrils. Take a few minutes to observe the natural rhythm of your breath. Try to let go of any thoughts and focus solely on the present. When you’re ready, inhale deeply and draw the breath into your lower abdomen. As the breath fills this area, allow it to expand into your stomach, sides, and back. Once the abdomen is full, begin to fill your mid-torso in a similar way. Continue to draw the air upwards, allowing it to fill the diaphragm, ribs, and mid-back. Once this area is full, complete the breath by drawing air into the upper chest. Hold the breath for a few seconds before releasing it slowly through the nose.

Increases Self-Confidence

For a better relationship with life, you need to feel good in your own skin. With regular practice, yoga can help us to achieve the body we’ve dreamed of. As well as increasing weight loss, yoga can be used to strengthen and tone the muscles. Sometimes, a strong body is all we need to feel confident and empowered. As well as improving our appearance, yoga teaches us that everybody is different. Seeing yogis of all shapes and sizes helps us to realise that nobody is perfect. In a world of social media, we can quickly become dissatisfied with our own body. Surrounded by airbrushed images of celebrities and influencers, it can seem like everyone has the ‘perfect body’. Through yoga, we realise that the ‘perfect body’ doesn’t actually exist.

Make Like-Minded Friends

When we are surrounded by positive people, we start to feel positive too. Through yoga, we can meet like-minded friends to support us in times of struggle. While not everybody is working towards the same goal, everybody is working towards something. This can keep us motivated when the class gets tough. As well as supporting each other during class, many yogis choose to meet up outside the studio.

Encourages Inner Peace

When we are feeling stressed, one of the best things to do is visit a peaceful, happy place. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible, particularly in the middle of the working day. Thankfully, yoga can be used to achieve inner peace without having to leave the office. One of the most effective treatments for stress, deep breathing can calm the mind and rationalise our worries. Once we learn to visit our internal ‘happy place’, it can be used anywhere at any time.

Strengthens Relationships

To transform your relationship with life, you must strengthen the relationships with those around you. Whether you’re feeling distant from your partner, family, or friends, yoga can be used to improve your relationship. When content, the mind can focus on sensitive subjects more effectively. This means that we can have deep conversations without becoming stressed out. Relieving physical and emotional tension, regular practice prevents you from taking out your stress on those around you.

Improves Sleep

Everything feels better after a good night sleep. When tired, we’re unable to rationalise properly. Over time, this can lead to stress and anxiety towards everyday day life. Thankfully, yoga can be used to help you sleep. As well as helping you to fall asleep quicker, the practice helps you to sleep for longer and fall back to sleep quickly if you wake during the night. Research has shown that yoga can combat insomnia in people of all sorts. For instance, pregnancy-related insomnia can be drastically improved through regular practice.

Boosts Energy Levels

When Friday rolls around, even the easiest tasks can feel exhausting. Unsurprisingly, this can leave us feeling unhappy and deflated. To combat fatigue, practice yoga for just ten minutes each morning. Before long, you’ll notice your energy levels improve and your motivation return. If you’re pushed for time in the morning, try practising after work instead. Restorative postures are ideal for evening practice as they calm the body and mind before bedtime.

Teaches to Self-Soothe

While it’s nice to have support, the ability to self-soothe can leave you feeling empowered. Being in control of your own happiness can drastically improve your relationship with life. In yoga, ‘Safe Postures’ are ideal for self-soothing. Best performed in a quiet space, the poses focus on your breathing and allow you to connect with your body on a deeper level. A few examples of safe poses are Pigeon Pose and Child’s Pose. In addition to calming the body and mind, these postures will leave you feeling safe and secure. The use of safe poses can help you to self-soothe by focussing on yourself.

In Summary

Whether you enjoy restorative yoga or you prefer vinyasa flow, practice regularly to transform your relationship with life. If you’re attending a local class, make sure to take the correct equipment. If you’d prefer to get changed at the studio, a spacious yoga bag can be used to transport your gear back and forth.