Maybe you made a new year’s resolution to get in shape or lose weight… Maybe you are looking for something new to spice up your current fitness routine… See seven reasons to give yoga a try…

I am not a fitness expert. I’m just a regular person who has battled the bulge for most of my adult life. After reaching my heaviest weight ever last year, I started yet another weight loss plan. I’ve lost nearly all the weight and have just a few pounds left to go. One thing I did different this time was add yoga to my exercise routine of cardio (running) and resistance training. I signed up for ClassPass and tried a bunch of new exercise like Pilates and barre. I fell in love with yoga.

I had tried yoga once a few years ago when I lived in Phoenix – and I didn’t like it at all. The teacher had us work in pairs – we did poses where we stepped on our partner’s hands and intertwined our arms to stretch. Since I went to class alone, I had to partner with a stranger. I’m still not sure what type of yoga it was supposed to be. But I’m so glad I gave it another try!

I’ve only been doing yoga for a year and a half, and still consider myself to be a beginner. I found two studios that I like and go once a week to each. I’m partial to Vinyasa yoga, but have only tried a few types so far like Iyengar and Ashtanga – which are cool too. One class I like is hatha style with a mix of Vinyasa and Restorative.

Seven Reasons to Try Yoga

Here are some reasons that you may fall in love with yoga too.

With the wide variety of styles, you can find a type of yoga that best suits your interests and goals.

  1. Yoga is challenging.
  2. Exercising barefoot is fun.
  3. Yoga builds strength.
  4. There is so much variety that yoga never gets boring.
  5. Yoga is a great way to clear your mind.
  6. After you learn some poses, you can do yoga anywhere.

Tips for Yoga Beginners

  • Learn a little about the different types of yoga to find some that appeal to you.
  • Try different studios to find one that you like.
  • Try different teachers to find one or more that you like.
  • Start with beginner classes.
  • Get a thick yoga mat – it is more comfy.

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