Most every American desires to be healthy, happy and lead an active lifestyle. Many people lead sedentary lifestyles. Driving, sitting at a desk or spending hours on the computer can take its toll on our bodies. We may intend on increasing our activity level with daily activity, but until that intention takes priority it will not just happen. As Nike says’ JUST DO IT’ and the new part two to that slogan, if you have yet to see it is ‘Every Damn Day’. Really.
Our level of discomfort with our bodies may motivate us to make effort to increase our activity level, if we are not uncomfortable, then it even more reason to get moving. Eventually if we do not move we will get stiff, tight and more prone to accidental injury. Our motivation may be a genetic predisposition to disease, such as arthritis, breast cancer, heart disease or any other life threatening condition. Even if you’re already lead a fairly active lifestyle, this should not be viewed as taking place of regular exercise done with intensity and focus.
Setting this desire to get exercise in to your life is going to require a personal commitment to yourself. Maybe getting up earlier to hit the gym or leaving to take a lunch hour fitness class. Nothing great is achieved unless something is given. Your efforts equal your results. However these little daily efforts begin to mount up and then the results will suddenly begin to flow!
Most importantly, be encouraged to step away from your comfort zone and try something new every day. This will prevent old patterns from taking over and reroute the neurotransmitters in your brain, preventing the onset of many degenerative diseases of the mind. One way to meet all these fundamental physical and mental needs is through a regular yoga practice.
There are many researched benefits of yoga, as it is a 6000 year old practice. To name a few, immediately you will see an increase in attention span and focus. Within the first month you will gain better balance, increase core strength, and learn to achieve mental relaxation without external stimulants. These benefits are increased and multiplied with Hot Yoga, as we have seen with our experience. We heat the studio space to a toasty 95-99 degrees and maintain a high humidity level of 65- 70%. We also add ionization to the air to help the nasal passages and airways become clear. This practice is a great detoxification for both the body and mind. Hot yoga increases the body’s ability to access the muscles and ligaments deeper than in a cool room; the practice increases stamina and endurance translatable to many other areas in life. Strength is gained, bone density increased and the simple pleasure of achieving something great is a wonderful reward.