Most of us who turn to yoga do so to become more flexible—or at least that’s what we think it’s going to be about (that and finding inner peace, of course). While we can attest that some people become more flexible and others get in touch with their bodies more over time, there’s a lot going on in the body from day one that no one expects.
The longer you practice yoga, the more your body transforms. And while some changes happen immediately and are unsuspecting, others take weeks, months, and even longer to become fully realized. But once they do, they’re pretty life-altering.
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Flexibility – But Not Always How You’d Expect It
Yes, your flexibility gets better with yoga. That’s obvious. But more than that, it’s not just that your muscles become accustomed to stretching more easily. Instead, the release of chronic tension that the body builds over time from sitting and standing in the office (or from repeatedly performing the same motion during a sports game or working out) gets loosened through practice.
Typically, people walk around with locked hips, tight shoulders and hamstrings that feel like steel cables. Over time with practice, our hips loosen, shoulders feel lighter and we’re able to touch our toes without effort. Yet more importantly, being able to stretch one’s muscles means less strain on other muscles: open hips help lower backs not be so strained; loose shoulders make necks less tight.
It’s also important to note that it happens relatively quick; after a month of practicing—even for just a few minutes a day—bending down to tie shoes becomes a no brainer; no longer must we use our entire torso to turn our heads to check blind spots while driving.
Strength That Surprises You
Holding poses give individuals a serious amount of strength—often in areas one wouldn’t expect. Core strength increases—a lot—more than just visible abs, but those deep stabilizing muscles that keep everything connected and functioning.
Arms/shoulders get toned in positions one doesn’t usually see when looking for strength in those areas—as well as relying on stabilized body weight day-to-day. But for those looking for increased strength and flexibility as well, there’s no need for heavy weights; yoga classes Sydney have ample opportunities for people to challenge themselves with what they have naturally.
Legs get stronger too but in ways that help us with balance and stability. Standing poses engage our muscles in their full range of motion; instead of only acquiring strength by repeating a movement motion for a few weeks (the same knee bend, for example), every angle is explored in yoga and after a few months we find we can hold positions we never thought we’d be able to.
Balance Becomes Second-Natured
The longer you practice yoga, the better your balance becomes. This happens because yoga forces your body to continuously re-establish its center of gravity while standing on one leg or moving with precision at slower paces.
The more your nervous system learns what your body is doing, the easier it is to move about on solid ground. In life, people trip less often but also catch themselves if they do because their understanding of their bodies has taught them what does and does not work where they are.
Additionally, coordination improves—the ability to move independently from the rest of the body but still remain stable—becomes enhanced. This might seem useless until we realize how much easier everyday movement it makes when our bodies work better by themselves.
Posture Improves Without the Thought
When we have bad posture, it’s usually an imbalance that we’ve trained our bodies into thinking is good. Therefore, when we fix imbalances through yoga over time, our bodies start to retain a better version of posture naturally.
Instead of shoulders hunched in and rounded forward, they extend back and down. Instead of a chomping head craned forward, it’s naturally placed aligned over the shoulders (and is even encouraged by the extended spine). Although it takes some time to adjust small things here and there, ones who become reinvigorated after not seeing someone for some time instantly notice posture adjustments.
What’s more, it’s not about forcing good posture upon yourself; instead, it’s about becoming trained into an environment where good posture is comfortable.
Recovery is Easier
When you’re doing yoga regularly, recovery from other physical pursuits becomes more manageable. Your blood flow is heightened and you maintain mobility; between this and drawing out metabolic waste from exercised muscles helps retain any soreness you’ve accumulated elsewhere.
When clients who enjoy cross training take frequent yoga classes at a studio, they’re amazed at how little nagging injuries they encounter; simple flexibility patterns enable increased body awareness which helps them prevent chronic strain or injury.
In fact, when something does happen minorly—from a pulled muscle to tightness—it’s often resolved rapidly with simple stretching instead of pharmaceutical holds.
Energy Levels Increase—Even with Sleep Patterns
Regularly going to yoga can help foster healthier sleep habits and energy patterns throughout the day. This happens because inevitably yoga encourages physical activity which tires out muscles in a good way but also breath patterns and focus which calm the nervous system.
People find that they go to bed significantly faster—and stay asleep more soundly—when they’ve exercised during the day. They wake up more refreshed. Additionally, energy levels are sustained throughout the day with fewer crashes which keeps caffeine consumption limited.
The Three-Month Marker Makes or Breaks You
Eventually, over time people realize they’ve learned to move their bodies differently. It takes a few months for practice to turn into effortless movement—even with distractors.
It takes time for basic movements that seem complicated or strenuous at first to become commonplace. The more people challenge their range of motions and identify limits they’ve been previously unaware of means that they’ve made strides toward a healthier possible future.
When everything from body awareness to improved strength brings significant strides over time means that they’re much more reputable in other settings when life actually begins competing with what’s happening on the mat.
