Yoga offers an opportunity to slow down, reconnect, and move with intention, making it an ideal addition to a weekly fitness routine. Whether practiced at home or in a studio, yoga encourages balance, strength, flexibility, and mindfulness, all while meeting the body where it is.
#1 Why is it important to move your body every week even in small ways?
Any movement you can create for your body is you taking steps towards better physical and mental health. Queen even if you start to do something as simple as yoga or taking a walk helps with circulation, decreasing stress, increasing energy, and promoting good health. Remember it’s about consistency not how intense your workout is. Queen I promise when you start this you’ll thank yourself later and you can start anytime!
#2 Is yoga considered a good workout for all fitness levels?
Yes Queen!!
No really! Yoga can be as forgiving as you want it to be because there are levels. You can go as easy or as hard on yourself as you want. It’s whatever you make it! Listen to your body, you will be trying new moves with your body that you may have not done before. You will continue to surprise your body the more you practice. Someone who is just starting to get into shape or very active can practice yoga and go at their own pace with strengthening their body and increasing flexibility.
#3 How does yoga benefit the body beyond flexibility?
Yoga is SO MUCH MORE than flexibility. It allows you to gain strength, balance, improve your posture (guilty as charged, I spend WAY too much time looking down at my phone), and learn to connect with your body. Yoga also teaches you how to breathe intentionally, this is key for regulating your nervous system and letting go of stress and tension we may not even know we have! The more you practice yoga, the more you’ll realize it’s no longer a workout you’re going to Queen, it’s how you care for your mind, body, and soul. Yoga is providing you with balance, alignment, and so much self-love all at once.
#4 Can yoga be effective even if done only once a week?
Yes!!! I would even say that once a week is beneficial. When you commit to showing up week after week paying attention to your breath and moving with intention your body notices. That once-a-week practice will begin to increase range of motion, release stiffness and loosen up those pesky knots we all love to gripe about! It also helps reset your mind and you begin to feel clearer, calmer and more centered like heck you took the time to stop and refill YOUR cup. Speaking of…
And that my Queens….is SELF CARE!
#5 How does yoga support mental wellness and stress relief?
Yoga teaches you to be intentional about your thoughts. It reminds your brain to live in the present moment and focus on what you are doing. This decreases unnecessary thinking in your brain which can otherwise cause stress and feeling burned out. Yoga triggers the parasympathetic nervous system through conscious breathing (aka pranayama), and slow movement. This allows the body to enter a state of rest, relaxation, and recovery which may decrease stress hormones like cortisol and allow the body to relax even further. With continued yoga practice, you can experience a decrease in anxiety levels and become more aware of your emotional regulation resulting in a long-lasting calm that you can bring into your daily life, choices, and mental health.
#6 What should someone focus on during a yoga session instead of perfection?
Yoga teaches us to listen. Listen to our bodies. Respect our limitations and be present with ourselves. Yoga is not about achieving the “perfect” pose or keeping up with everyone else. At the end of the day, you are doing this for you Queens. Yoga is how each pose feels, what your body needs and allowing yourself to go at your own pace. When you practice like that there’s no trying to look a certain way in yoga, you feel strong in your practice, you feel your breath and you find your peace in that moment.
#7 How can yoga fit into a realistic and sustainable fitness routine?
Self-care doesn’t have to be complicated with yoga. It requires minimal gear, and can be done at home, in a studio or even outdoors for some fresh air. It pairs easily with other activities too, like a walk, a strength training session, or a rest day. Most importantly, yoga can easily adapt to you and your schedule. So you can keep showing up for yourself and staying strong and grounded along the way, Queen.
SHEspiration Reflection
Pause for a second… how does your body feel when you decide to move vs HAVE to move. Health isn’t about doing the most… it’s about doing what you need to do this season. Did you move a lot this week? Fantastic. Did you move softly? Perfect. Stay gentle with yourself, take care of your body, that is respecting yourself.