YOGA FOR BEGINNERSwhat you can expect when you start to practice, but don’t be
surprised if you notice other changes happening as well.
Increasing Your Sense of Space
Proprioception is the ability to understand how your
body moves in space. It’s me standing at the front of the
room asking you to step your right foot forward and point
your toes straight ahead. You do this without having to
look down. By focusing on alignment in the poses, yogis’
proprioception increases.
Supporting Weight Loss
As a system of exercise that can increase your heart rate and
build muscle, yoga inevitably makes weight loss possible. But
one of the other benefits of yoga is that many people begin
to eat more mindfully. Because they start to feel better over-
all, they start to make healthier choices for their bodies.
Adding to Your Strength
The poses require you to hold your own body weight in a
variety of ways. This stresses your muscles in a manner that
encourages them to get stronger, much like lifting weights.
Enhancing Flexibility
This is the obvious benefit that comes to mind when you
think of yoga. Stick with the practice. You’ll find that your
joints become more mobile and you wake with less stiffness.