First of all, let’s clear the air and burst this myth that Yoga is ‘all’ about twists and turns or body flexibility. No! Yoga is about mental peace, physical balance, and emotional stability. So, Yoga is not ‘just’ about body flexibility. It is much more than that!
Here is a new perspective to look at things which not many people talk about but it is the “success mantra” to continue your growth. Let’s say that you are at a happy place in your life, and you are feeling content with how things are going on in your professional as well as personal life. Now, this is where most of the people lose track when they start getting too comfortable in their success which further results in their downfall. To keep the graph going, one needs to stabilize their act, and consistently thrive towards doing better.
So, what is that one thing which can cover all the aspects of keeping you successful, healthy and mentally flexible? You know the answer, it’s Yoga. It is the ultimate solution to all your problems or obstacles as it fixes and maintains your mental and physical health graciously. The question is; why do people seek Yoga only when they are stuck or depressed, why not when they are happy? As this is where the distinction begins, because if you don’t take life for granted, you will notice a consistency in your overall development.Think about the time when Yoga was first introduced in the Vedas, there were hardly any fancy tools with which yoga could be practiced. Only a natural force was enough to regulate your practice. If you just learn the basics, you will eventually find yourself in a better place, mentally, physically, emotionally and hence professionally.
Eligibility to manifest Yoga
What about the eligibility to manifest Yoga into your daily practice? Does my body have to be flexible? Do I need a professional yoga teacher training in India? Or should I just follow the blogs like I am doing right now?
All the curious souls should know that there is no eligibility criterion to start your yoga practice; you can start it at your home using a yoga mat from Pureful Yoga, today. It’s the start of a new year; fill it up with all the things and activities that you truly believe in with the acts that are feeding your soul. An aspiring yogi does not necessarily have to be flexible since the beginning, as it is a gradual process. If you take an YTT in India or anywhere else, then, of course, you will gain more clarity about the “what’s and how’s” of Yoga; but in the digital world, you can learn the smart way too.
How Yoga increases flexibility?
In order to understand this phenomenon clearly, we need to develop a detailed understanding of the muscle system and how they work. The tightness or the decreased flexibility is caused due to the lack of moisture content in tissues and the formation of cellular cross-links that prevent the independent movement of parallel fibers. When we stretch our muscles while performing asana, it slowly breaks apart the interwoven cellular cross-links, allowing the muscles to regain the ideal parallel structure.
If we look closely at the functioning of skeletal muscles (biceps, triceps, hamstring, knees, etc.), they usually work in pairs, where one set of muscle contracts and other stretches. According to a recent study, the connective tissue that binds the muscle fibers together is responsible for promoting flexibility. Connective tissue is the most abundant tissue in the body and yoga asana helps in improving the cellular quality of this vital tissue, which in turn provides better flexibility to the skeletal muscles.
Another study reveals that muscle fascia is a special kind of connective tissue that separates individual muscle fibers, providing a proper structure to muscles. If we focus on a cellular level, fascia is the structural component that limits the body’s flexibility and this can be trained through yoga.
5 Yoga asanas to make your body flexible
- Uttanasana
- Virabhadrasana I
- Bhujangasana
- Dhanurasana
- Marjaryasana-Bitilasana
The benefits of body flexibility are; that it promotes joint health and range of motion, it helps prevent back pain, shields you from any minor injuries. Remember, Yoga is much more than just about body flexibility. For example; it highly focuses on mental health, spiritual wisdom, physical fitness, balance and harmonization between the mind and body. Alongside the flexibility factor, the adjustment and alignment of the body is crucial, or else the whole point of being flexible diminishes and doesn’t contribute to your benefit.
Yoga minimizes the risk of injuries, illnesses or diseases. It helps in increasing your flexibility by reducing your stress and makes you calm. These factors multiply the potential of all the attendees, by leaving them feeling more refreshed and accomplished. Get rid of the rigidness in the hamstrings, shoulders, hips, etc. Take away all your doubts about the spiritual world, explore the inner life and make way for your wisdom to breathe and flourish. With the powerful effects of yoga, each day becomes more flexible; mentally, physically, and spiritually.
Dedicated and regular practice of yoga makes your body more flexible and a magnet to all the positive vibrations. Become a healthier person by saying ‘yes’ to Yoga, and no to procrastination. The amazing benefits of yoga can only be touched, if you surrender to nature’s power. Get to see a higher perspective in life, and move towards a successful behavioral pattern by feeling more content, energized, and rejuvenated.
About the Guest Author
Manmohan Singh is a passionate Yogi, Yoga Teacher and a Traveller in India. He organize 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training in Goa. Manmohan Singh conducts Yoga Teacher Training in India in different cities. He loves writing and reading books related to yoga, health, nature and Himalayas.