Taking up yoga has many benefits, both physical and mental. Discover 8 poses for each of these benefits, as discussed by a yoga teacher.

The Benefits of Yoga: 8 Good Reasons to Start Yoga

If you're looking for a holistic solution to improve your physical and mental well-being, yoga is the answer. This ancient discipline, originating in India, includes a combination of postures, breathing techniques, and meditation designed to harmonize the body, mind, and spirit.

In our modern world where stress and distractions are omnipresent, yoga offers numerous benefits for our well-being. It helps reduce stress, improve flexibility and muscle strength, improve sleep, and promote focus and mental clarity. Additionally, yoga is an excellent way to connect with yourself, cultivate presence, and find emotional balance.

Whether you're a complete beginner or an advanced practitioner, yoga can be adapted to all fitness and experience levels. With classes available in studios or online, it's easy to start enjoying the many benefits of yoga.

Invest time in self-care by incorporating yoga into your daily routine and observe the positive changes it can bring to your overall well-being.

The physical benefits of yoga

Yoga offers many physical benefits that contribute to improving your overall health. First, it helps improve flexibility and balance through the various postures and stretches practiced during sessions. Regular yoga practice helps strengthen muscles and prevent injuries related to poor posture or muscle weakness.

In addition to improving flexibility, yoga also benefits muscle strength and tone. Yoga poses engage muscles throughout the body, helping to strengthen and tone them. Additionally, yoga can be practiced at varying intensity levels, allowing you to tailor the exercises to suit your personal goals.

Finally, yoga can also be a great activity for weight loss and maintaining a healthy body. Some forms of yoga, such as dynamic yoga or hot yoga, can be very physically demanding and help you burn calories. Additionally, regular yoga practice promotes better nutrition, better digestion, and greater body awareness, which can contribute to a healthier weight.

By incorporating yoga into your exercise routine, you can enjoy its many physical benefits and improve your overall health.

8 good reasons to start yoga

Marie Corrihons, now a sports physiotherapist and yoga instructor, passionate about both her professions, explains and illustrates the key benefits of yoga for your body and mental health. Let Marie guide you and enjoy this highly beneficial discipline. She suggests one or two poses to suit your strength and flexibility.

1. Yoga improves strength, balance and flexibility.

Slow movements and deep breathing increase blood circulation and warm up muscles, while maintaining posture can build strength.

Mary's Pose: Chaturanga Dandasana or Low Plank, descend into the pose on the exhale to engage your core, respecting the natural curve of your back. This pose helps build arm strength and strengthen your core.

2. Yoga helps relieve back pain and arthritis symptoms

Yoga is as effective as basic stretching in relieving pain and improving mobility for people with lower back pain.

Mary's Pose: Adho Mukha Svanasana or Downward Facing Dog, press into all ten fingers to lengthen your spine. Your intention is to raise your pelvis toward the sky, while lowering your heels toward the ground. This induces a great stretch of the entire posterior chain to free your back.

3. Yoga is beneficial for heart health.

Regular yoga practice can reduce stress and inflammation levels in the body, contributing to heart health.

Mary's Pose: Sirsasana or Headstand, an inversion pose that stimulates the heart's mechanisms. This pose should be practiced with caution and precision. Place the crown of your head, not the top of your forehead, on the floor. This increases the activity of your sympathetic nervous system. Your heart rate and blood pressure temporarily decrease.

Alternative: Sarvangasana or the shoulder stand can also provide all the benefits of an inversion. Make sure you don't feel any pain in your neck. This pose facilitates return circulation in the legs and stimulates the heart and artery control mechanisms. Inversion can also have a positive effect on the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the spinal cord and brain.

4. Yoga relaxes you and helps you sleep better.

Research shows that a regular bedtime yoga practice can help put you in the right frame of mind and prepare your body to fall and stay asleep.

Mary's Pose: Savasana or Dead Man's Pose, after practicing asanas or pranayamas, lie down on the floor. No more breath control, complete and profound stillness, a letting go of the whole body and mind.

5. Yoga can be a source of energy and good mood.

You may experience increased mental and physical energy, increased alertness and enthusiasm, and fewer negative feelings after making a habit of practicing yoga.

Mary Pose: In Ustrasana or Camel Pose, kneel with one or both hands on your heels. Here, move your pelvis forward to keep it above your knees. Your intention is to open and extend your upper back. A great opening of the heart.

6. Yoga helps you manage stress.

According to the National Institutes of Health, scientific evidence shows that yoga promotes stress management, mental health, mindfulness, healthy eating, weight loss, and quality sleep.

Marie's Pose: Siddhasana or Cross-Legged, adjust the pose with a yoga block under your pelvis if necessary. Find your most comfortable seat so that your spine is as long as possible and creates a nice space for your breathing. Focus your attention on each inhalation and exhalation for a few minutes.

7. Yoga connects you with a supportive community.

Participating in yoga classes can relieve loneliness and provide an environment conducive to group healing and support.

Marie's advice: Regular group yoga classes help build bonds. AcroYoga combines yoga, acrobatic lifts, and Thai Yoga Massage. AcroYoga postures are performed in pairs or groups. It's primarily fun, but it also builds trust, communication, and connection with yourself and others.

8. Yoga promotes better self-care.

Yoga offers the opportunity to relax, dedicate a moment to oneself, and release the tensions that hinder well-being. This discipline is successful due to its effectiveness in reducing omnipresent stress and improving the overall state of the individual. It is a natural antidepressant.

Marie's pose: Pincha Mayurasana or Forearm Stand, press your forearms fully into the floor. Find your balance by pressing a little more into your hands or a little more into your elbows. Yoga is a path of self-discovery. It's about learning to know and understand your body. It's also about challenging yourself and building trust.

Alternative: Viparita Karani Mudra or The gesture that reverses all processes. I really like this Yin posture with arms and legs facing the sky without a wall. You can place a bolster under the pelvis if necessary. After a long day of sitting and standing, it allows oxygen-depleted blood to return to the heart thanks to gravity. Use as little effort as possible but as much as necessary to keep arms and legs facing the sky, find a great relaxation in this posture. After 2 or 3 minutes: absolute lightness felt, a real little gift for your body.

Incorporate yoga into your wellness routine

Yoga offers numerous benefits for your physical and mental well-being. Whether it's improving flexibility, strengthening muscles, reducing stress, promoting relaxation, improving concentration, or improving sleep quality, yoga can be a valuable practice for your overall health.

Whether you're a complete beginner or an advanced practitioner, yoga can be adapted to all fitness and experience levels. With classes available in studios or online, it's easy to start enjoying the many benefits of yoga. Discover our classes in Hossegor and Paris.

Invest time in self-care by incorporating yoga into your daily routine. Whether it's a few minutes of mindful breathing in the morning, a gentle yoga session in the evening, or a more intensive practice several times a week, every moment spent practicing yoga is an opportunity to connect with yourself, cultivate presence, and find emotional balance.

Don't wait any longer; start enjoying the benefits of yoga for your physical and mental well-being today. Your body and mind will thank you. Namaste.