Yoga - 3 reasons why I love it!

Lots of people are under the impression that yoga is just a physical practice, however the benefits can be huge not just for your body but also your mind.

Here are my top 3 reasons for loving yoga:

• Being present - when I practice yoga, no matter what is going on, or how I’m feeling I know I can step onto my mat and let it all go for that little bit of time. Any worries, any anger or tension is eased as I allow myself some space to really notice how my physical body feels, while calming my mind. Yoga helps to give me perspective, allowing me to see situations and feel emotions in a more constructive and energised way.

• Breathe - the ability to breathe in a conscious, mindful way is crucial to feeling calm and centred. Before practicing pranayama (breath-work) on a daily basis with my teachers in Dubai, I often felt tense and anxious. Diaphragmatic breathing and techniques to lengthen the breath not only energise the body but help to clear the mind. Knowing how to breathe properly, in a deep and meaningful manner has changed my ability to respond to situations- whether giving birth, having an important meeting or being upset - the power of the breath is something I can harness and control.

• Union - ”Yoga is like music, the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life“ - BKS Iyengar. My guru Babu used to use this quote during practice and it really resonated with me. So many of us lose the connection between our bodies and minds, too busy to really notice how we are feeling or take time that is truly for ourselves. Finding yoga allowed me to fine tune my physical and mental well-being so that my soul felt happy and content. The joy in that realisation when shared with others is magical; the union between people during a practice and within a community of yogis is so special. Yoga is the appreciation of the most important things in life as a means of creating balance between the body, mind and soul.

What do you love about yoga? What does ’yoga’ mean for you? I love discussions about the benefits people feel from their practice...

”Tessa Clemson Yoga - your yoga studio in Great Harwood, serving Hyndburn, Blackburn with Darwen, Ribble Valley & Burnley“