How many of us have set goals and found it hard to reach them? How many of you have found that your New Year’s Resolutions are no longer forefront in your mind? The problem always seems to be time and distraction. We get busy with other things; we get tired; we lose our confidence. Well today I want to share with you how yoga can help you in reaching your goals. I have been doing yoga consistently for the last year and it has helped me tremendously. Here is what I’ve found:
Yoga cross trains your mind and body for maximum potential. Imagine being able to optimize your attitude in one hour, per day, or less. Every day, people that do yoga for physical or mental health end up finishing their practice with the tools needed to be masters of their own destiny.
How is this possible you ask? Well, regular yoga practice results in a positive attitude adjustment for the participant. Many of us walk around with a “perceived handicap.” We blame everything for our set backs and lack of opportunities. Society, your boss, and your family, are all easy targets to blame, for lack of opportunities.
It is true that age, financial status, gender, and ethnic background, are factors in success. However, these factors can all be overcome by working toward your goal on a daily basis, and taking life one-step-at- a-time.
Remember, that if you think your situation is a disability, it will be.
So, where does yoga come in then? For one thing, you will appreciate life to it’s fullest. You will stop wasting time, by letting daily opportunities go by. Many of us have opportunities, but we think it won’t work, we don’t have what it takes for success, or we lack the drive to carry a plan through. I know I used to feel that way. I didn’t have the confidence to pursue things that I thought we way out of reach. Later I found out I was wrong, and that everything is possible.
Yoga and meditation teach you to supervise your mind. Up until now, your mind has been allowed to work against you. Much like a “back seat driver,” the mind is good at “second guessing,” fearing, doubting, and discouraging new ideas. The mind would prefer to stay in one place, and let the world go by, leaving you in a deeper state of frustration, by worrying about making a mistake. What you need to do is to cultivate a positive relationship with your mind through practicing yoga postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation. You can find all this, and much more, at your local yoga studio, online, or on your smart phone. The key is to make yoga a part of your regular routine. The opportunities to practice yoga are everywhere. Whether you practice before or after work is not important; you just need to practice. Once you start, I swear, you will begin to feel the mental benefits right away.
I know when I first started yoga, I ended up feeling guilty that it took so long to start. However, the important thing was that I started and made a commitment to continue. A year later I am a much more confident, stable, relaxed, and productive individual. My work life, home life, and social life have all improved. Yoga really has helped me not only reach my goals but also made a more well rounded person; one at peace with themselves and the world around them.
So, have you ever tried practicing yoga? What kind of benefits have you found?
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How Yoga Helped Me Reach My Goals and Be a Better Person — 14 Comments
I go to the yoga class at work during lunch on Tuesday and Thursday. It really help calm me down. I haven’t done much yoga since I’m off on bonding leave though. I can’t wait until I get back to it.
@Retire by 40. Yes, sometimes our schedule changes for a while and that’s ok. The important thing is that we get back on track when we can. You know there are ton of great sites online that offer free yoga. Maybe you can use them to do a bit at home while the little one rests.
I tried hot yoga, it was brutal. I lasted about a week and a half. I may have stuck with it longer if they eased you into it by having shorter classes, but 90 minutes in that heat and not being able to hold a pose was just a beat down, it felt like a huge waste of time. My wife get’s a lot more out of it than I did obviously 🙂
@Justin. Sorry to hear you didn’t have a good experience with hot yoga. I do admit it is not everyone’s thing. Where I live they have 60 minute classes. Too bad that is not so where you live. The cool thing about yoga is there are many different kinds and most of them aren’t hot. Why don’t you look into some other studios in your area and see if you can get an into package to try some different ones. That way you won’t spend a lot figuring out which one you like.
I started practicing yoga around six years ago. I have to say I rarely go to classes anymore but practicing on my own really does a lot for my core strength and stress level. I’ve actually found that I practice most regularly when I’m travel ling for business, go figure. Yoga’s no cure-all, but it’s certainly valuable enough to incorporate in my life.
@No Debt MBA. I think that once you have been taught the basics about yoga in a class and know how to practice injury free, it is perfectly acceptable to practice at home. I have found my routine good when I travel for business too. I think it’s because you don’t have the other home distractions calling your name. You actually have some free time to focus on yourself. I am glad to hear you have felt the benefits of yoga too.
I’ve always been curious about yoga and have considered joining, but I cant get into doing it – I’ll probably be the only guy in the class (not that I care) and I’ve found the classes offered in my area are rather expensive (more than I’m willing to pay, anyway)
@ Jeff. Try looking online for some free courses. There are a ton of options. Or check out Amazon and see if you can order some videos. Both of these will give you the option of trying it out in your own home. Don’t worry about being the only guy; there are a ton of men in the classes I have been too before.
It’s great that Yoga has helped you so much. I rotate Yoga DVDs into my morning routine, alternating them with step, aerobics and weight training. I only have beginning and intermediate Yoga routines on the DVDs – but would like to work on getting into some of the harder poses.
@Marie. Sounds like you are doing a great job already. A routine really helps I find. Keeps you on track. Glad to hear you have been enjoying yoga- keep it up, it’s good for you.
@Frugal confessions. Ya, once you get used to the heat, hot yoga is great. It sure helps with those tense muscles doesn’t it. Glad to hear you too have felt the benefits of yoga.
I would like to figure out how to add yoga into my weekly routine… I imagine the relaxation benefits aren’t as good if you’re stressed out trying to make time for the yoga.
I was doing a couple of poses out of magazines each night though, and even at age 24 it is amazing how much I’ve stiffened up from sitting at a desk all day for a year. Even just a couple of stretches can help a lot.
@kellen. Try doing a few poses before work in the morning to set you in the right frame of mind for the day. I find even 10 minutes can make a big difference.
I go to the yoga class at work during lunch on Tuesday and Thursday. It really help calm me down. I haven’t done much yoga since I’m off on bonding leave though. I can’t wait until I get back to it.
@Retire by 40. Yes, sometimes our schedule changes for a while and that’s ok. The important thing is that we get back on track when we can. You know there are ton of great sites online that offer free yoga. Maybe you can use them to do a bit at home while the little one rests.
I tried hot yoga, it was brutal. I lasted about a week and a half. I may have stuck with it longer if they eased you into it by having shorter classes, but 90 minutes in that heat and not being able to hold a pose was just a beat down, it felt like a huge waste of time. My wife get’s a lot more out of it than I did obviously 🙂
@Justin. Sorry to hear you didn’t have a good experience with hot yoga. I do admit it is not everyone’s thing. Where I live they have 60 minute classes. Too bad that is not so where you live. The cool thing about yoga is there are many different kinds and most of them aren’t hot. Why don’t you look into some other studios in your area and see if you can get an into package to try some different ones. That way you won’t spend a lot figuring out which one you like.
I started practicing yoga around six years ago. I have to say I rarely go to classes anymore but practicing on my own really does a lot for my core strength and stress level. I’ve actually found that I practice most regularly when I’m travel ling for business, go figure. Yoga’s no cure-all, but it’s certainly valuable enough to incorporate in my life.
@No Debt MBA. I think that once you have been taught the basics about yoga in a class and know how to practice injury free, it is perfectly acceptable to practice at home. I have found my routine good when I travel for business too. I think it’s because you don’t have the other home distractions calling your name. You actually have some free time to focus on yourself. I am glad to hear you have felt the benefits of yoga too.
I’ve always been curious about yoga and have considered joining, but I cant get into doing it – I’ll probably be the only guy in the class (not that I care) and I’ve found the classes offered in my area are rather expensive (more than I’m willing to pay, anyway)
@ Jeff. Try looking online for some free courses. There are a ton of options. Or check out Amazon and see if you can order some videos. Both of these will give you the option of trying it out in your own home. Don’t worry about being the only guy; there are a ton of men in the classes I have been too before.
It’s great that Yoga has helped you so much. I rotate Yoga DVDs into my morning routine, alternating them with step, aerobics and weight training. I only have beginning and intermediate Yoga routines on the DVDs – but would like to work on getting into some of the harder poses.
@Marie. Sounds like you are doing a great job already. A routine really helps I find. Keeps you on track. Glad to hear you have been enjoying yoga- keep it up, it’s good for you.
I absolutely adore yoga! I have tried ashtanga, Bikram, and hot yoga, and my favorite so far is hot yoga.
@Frugal confessions. Ya, once you get used to the heat, hot yoga is great. It sure helps with those tense muscles doesn’t it. Glad to hear you too have felt the benefits of yoga.
I would like to figure out how to add yoga into my weekly routine… I imagine the relaxation benefits aren’t as good if you’re stressed out trying to make time for the yoga.
I was doing a couple of poses out of magazines each night though, and even at age 24 it is amazing how much I’ve stiffened up from sitting at a desk all day for a year. Even just a couple of stretches can help a lot.
@kellen. Try doing a few poses before work in the morning to set you in the right frame of mind for the day. I find even 10 minutes can make a big difference.