Ask Margo : What benefits have you experienced since starting yoga?

My friends all know that I’m the yogini of the group and I’m always posting pictures of my progress on social media. Recently, a friend of mine posed a really great question that will be the topic of this post. He asked what benefits I’ve experienced since starting yoga.

I have definitely experienced several physical benefits from practicing yoga. Here are the top 3 benefits that I’ve noticed so far.

1. My core is stronger than it’s ever been.

Your core is the center of your yoga practice. The core muscle group includes all of the muscles that are located in your torso that keep your body balanced and stable. Just about every posture that you take extends from your core. Whether you practice at home or in a studio, you’ll read and hear direction to suck your bellybutton inward and upward to better engage your core.

In addition to having a more toned tummy and cinched waist, I’ve noticed improvements in my posture. My elevated core strength and control also provide me with more balance during my other workouts.

2. My upper body strength is so much better.

My least favorite part of my body to workout is my upper body. Ask me to do push-ups and I’d rather do squats. Ask me to do a pull-up and I’d rather run 3 miles. I try to avoid anything regarding my biceps, triceps and chest at all costs! Since starting yoga, I’ve noticed an organic increase in my upper body strength. I think a lot of it has come from really focusing on my form when I’m in poses like plank and downward dog. I focus on holding my shoulders back, relaxing my neck and engaging my core. When I breathe and flow during downward dog and plank sequences I feel my arms and chest working as well. From there I notice that I’m able to more easily support myself in different asanas (poses).

3. Hello flexibility.

One of the biggest differences in my physical capabilities since I’ve started practicing yoga is hands-down an improvement in my flexibility. As a kid I was like a walking rubber band. I could effortlessly ease into a backbend and my sister and I had contest to see who could put both feet behind our heads the fastest. Fast-forward to Margo in her 20’s and that is definitely not the case! I’ve always considered myself to be pretty flexible but for me it’s been one of those things that I lost throughout the years because stretching hasn’t been a focus of mine. I might do a 5-10 minute post-workout cool-down, but I wasn’t really focusing on my breathing or pushing myself to go deeper into different stretches.

Since starting yoga, I have a heightened awareness of my body. I listen to know when I can push myself a little more.  There’s strength in breathing, and that is where my power comes from. Each time I get on the mat I open my hips a little more and I modify moves to grow and improve. Don’t force it. You don’t want to get an injury from going too deep into a move or by holding an uncomfortable pose to long. Remember this is a yoga journey, not a race. Just listen to your body and breathe.

The best part of my yoga journey has been having something to look forward to. I am so excited and humbled by having the opportunity to grow in mind, body and spirit through my practice.

Ciao Bellas,