When someone says they “do Yoga”, there’s a very typical image that pops into one’s head. In the western world, it may be the nouveau hipster fad following youngsters. In India, it tends to be the image of old men in saffron attire. For new mothers, Ms Shetty and her pre-natal CDs are perhaps at the top of the mind.
The underlying theme is that we know a lot of people who do it, but it isn’t really something we can do.
For me, Yoga has always been an important step in any endeavour for fitness. My first Yoga teacher was technically my father. He has learnt his practice from books — there are half a dozen that line his bookshelf even today. I remember even as a pre-teen, being woken up by him at the wee hours of the AM to practice a dozen different asanas. Our favourite one used to be the Shavasana which literally and physically means the Corpse Pose. Just lie down and pretend to be dead (or sleep!).
Growing up in these increasingly health & fitness conscious times, Yoga has stayed with me. During the second and third terms of my pregnancy, I went for twice a week classes with a certified pre-natal expert. And even in the journey back to fitness after delivery, I just had to include a Yoga class — and it felt awesome!
Here is a legitimate and proven form of exercise that has been honed over hundreds of years, and makes you literally sweat just from a combination of stretching and breathing. Why wouldn’t you want to try it?! It may just turn out to be that one enjoyable “exercise” that works for you, in more ways than one.
Stretch those Muscles – muscle soreness is something that many mums start to accept in post-partum bodies. Upper and lower back, legs (especially hip and thigh muscles) and even arms are often seen as weak points. These muscles need to be strengthened and they need some extra loving.
The Surya Namaskar is perhaps the most known set of asanas and for good reason – it is great at activating each and every muscle in the body. Try doing few Surya Namaskars to kick start your mornings and trust me your muscles will thank you for it. To begin, you can do 2 rounds and try to coordinate your breathing with each asana. You can slowly build this up to at least 10 rounds daily. The beauty of the Surya Namaskar is that can be practised by a beginner, and it is also part of every expert yogi’s routine!
Calm the Mind – women, and especially mums, are so hard-wired to multi-task on a continuous basis that breaking that habit can not be done instantaneously. In the long run, however, even we know that to keep ourselves going, we need to slow down and have blocks of mindfulness during the day. Always thinking about a hundred tasks and to-do lists can tire us out mentally, and physically. Regular Yoga practice helps to centre one’s thoughts.
A few minutes of deep breathing and some pranayam restores the balance of mind and body. While meditation isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, counting breaths and regulating our inhalation and exhalation for 10-15 minutes can work similar magic. The flow of oxygen within the body increases and the mind can stay more focused through the day.
Burn some Calories – who doesn’t like to hear those magic words!? Of course, Yoga is not the top-recommended workout for burning calories, but it isn’t at the bottom either. Depending on the intensity of the session – both in terms of types of asanas, how long you hold each asana – an average person can burn anywhere from 150 to 350 calories per hour.
While this may seem quite small compared to a high-intensity cardio workout, the point is that Yoga gets you started and keeps you on track. Burning some calories while getting your mind and body in balance is a win-win in my books!
Make new Friends – joining a Yoga class in your community or neighbourhood has this beautiful advantage of connecting you with like-minded people. I’ve found that the regulars to such classes and the instructors themselves are very friendly and supportive. There is a good vibe that permeates through the sessions and stays with you after.
It may of course be that you have decided not to go the community class way, and want to practice solo instead. In that case, there is an online community full of Yoga enthusiasts who would welcome you to the community with open arms (and hips!). Search Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, or any other preferred social media and you’re sure to find Yogis of all levels to share your experiences with.
Not convinced yet? Check out some of these awesome Insta-spirations to get yourself in the mood for Yoga.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
