Update: My 1-Month Yoga Journey

If you frequent H3Daily you know a couple weeks ago I publicized the pact I’d made to participate in yoga for one full month. This was the first time that I’d ever taken more than a single class in a week. I admit, there are some revelations I’ve had concerning yoga that now make me a believer.

1. Your golf game will noticeably improve

I’d venture to argue that you’d see athletic improvements in any sport with a month of yoga. I’ve played golf three times in the past month and can see significant improvements in my core flexibility and strength. In addition, my balance is trending upward.

2. I’m sleeping much better

In November, I was waking up one or two times a night and in the morning I’d have a nagging back ache that only a lengthy warm shower could remedy. But, now I’m sleeping through the night and waking up feeling refreshed. The shavasana, known in layman’s terms as meditation, increases Alpha wave production in the brain. Picture the relaxed state a monk is able to maintain. These neural impulses help the brain and body relax.

3. I’m part of a new community

Yoga isn’t just about what you can do on your mat, it’s more about how you connect with others off of it. I’ve been practicing at Jiva Yoga Studio here on Hilton Head and they have an amazing community of like-minded individuals who are welcoming and helpful.

4. I can comfortably touch my toes

A month ago I couldn’t believe that before my third decade of life I wouldn’t be able to touch my toes. Sure, I could lunge toward them and possibly scrape the surface of my big toes, but now I can actually grab the bottom of my foot without bending my knees. As we age, flexibility plays an extremely large role in the health of our spine. If you can’t comfortably reach down and touch your toes without bending your knees you’ll likely have back pain far before you could’ve ever expected.

5. It’s not nearly as intimidating as I had imagined

I envisioned being lost in a room of pretzel twisted bodies. Boy was I wrong. There are lots of different levels in a typical yoga class and modifications are plentiful. Sure, there are times I feel a little out of my element, but getting out of your comfort zone is an important part of yoga. If we are always comfortable then we’re never going to improve.

So, it was definitely worth it! I’d encourage all of you to try yoga for just one month. I have a feeling that you’ll get hooked too