It’s good to know there are lots of things we can do to enhance our wellbeing. These skills are now being taught in some schools and to business leaders across the world.

We can all learn new ways to feel more positive emotions, have stronger relationships, and find meaningful work.

Over 6 weeks we explore ways to improve your wellbeing.

4.     Yoga

Practicing yoga is another way we can achieve greater wellbeing through improved health, clarity and greater self-awareness.

Yoga is an ancient practice, developed in India over 2,500 years ago. It explores the complex nature of humans and how our mind, body and spirit works together. Yoga uses a series of postures and breathing techniques to help us exercise, relax and meditate.

Over the past 15 or 20 years, there has been growing interest in the health benefits of yoga and we’re seeing more rigorous scientific studies into the benefits of yoga.

Benefits of yoga

Yoga slows your breath and helps you focus on the present.

Yoga shifts you from the sympathetic nervous system (or the fight-or-flight response) to the parasympathetic nervous system (the parasympathetic nervous system is calming and restorative).

It helps lower breathing and heart rates, decreases blood pressure, and increases blood flow to the intestines and reproductive organs.

Other possible benefits of yoga include:

·      building flexibility and strength

·      better posture

·      stress management

·      building self-esteem as you improve

·      alleviating anxiety and depression

·      managing pain

·      helping sleep

·      enhancing self-care and hope as yoga practice makes positive change

·      calming the mind

·      developing a sense of spirituality and concepts greater than the self

·      enhancing gratitude and positive self-reflection

·      immune-boosting effects

·      providing aerobic exercise in more vigorous classes like Ashtanga.

How can I start practicing yoga?

You don’t need to be super athletic or flexible to enjoy yoga. Anyone can give it a try. It’s suitable for people of all ages and all levels of fitness. You just need to find a style that’s safe and right for you.

You can find a yoga teacher in most towns and suburbs, or you could play a DVD or find a good yoga teacher online. It’s something you can do at home for yourself.

What happens in a yoga class?

All classes are different depending on the style of yoga and your teacher’s philosophies and training. You might need to try a couple of different styles of yoga to find the one that suits you best.

Most classes include:

·      yogic philosophy, intentions and self-enquiry

·      breathing exercises

·      a series of postures

·      meditation and mental focus practice

·      return to outward focus and reflection.

Yoga and finding flow

Yoga is a great way to find a state of ‘flow’. When we’re in flow, we’re devoted to one activity. Our perception of time changes and we lose sense of self, pain, and worries.

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