Yoga is a practice that comes to the West from India. The word yoga means “union”. When we practice yoga, we are fostering a sense of uniting body and breath, self and other, and, ultimately, self with the Cosmos and our place in them.

Yoga soothes and strengthens the mind, body, and spirit. When it comes to our mind, yoga thickens the parts of the brain associated with learning, memory, and information processing. The breathing techniques incorporated in many yoga classes help regulate the autonomic nervous system. Breath regulation calms the sympathetic nervous system and activates the parasympathetic system, slowing the heartrate, lowering blood pressure, and improving digestion. Furthermore, yoga improves mood by lowering stress hormones, increasing endorphins, and diminishing emotional reactivity.

Yoga may be best known for the benefits it provides for the physical body. Those who practice yoga report increased strength and flexibility and improved sleep. As a weight-bearing exercise, yoga may even improve bone strength. Yoga has the potential to make practitioners more aware of all aspects of health. Awareness creates the opportunity for improvement not only in physical activity but also nutrition.

Finally, yoga is a spiritual practice. It teaches us not only how to do downward facing dog pose, but also how to live well and get along with others. Attending a regular yoga class gives us an opportunity for social engagement. Our shared practice promotes bonding and a sense of belonging. As we become more self-aware on our mat, we are better able to access the proverbial “still small voice within” when we are off our mat.