Top 5 reasons to begin YOGA, by Ambika

1. Happy Hormones! Moving our body feels good. Simple. When we move our body, not only are we exercising our physical body, we are releasing happy hormones. These hormones make us feel better about ourselves which makes us ace to be around. Happiness = patience, compassion and awesomeness. 
2. Focus! We all know that scatty 'search for the car keys  (find them in the fridge) scenario'. Or staring out the window thinking about your next holiday (in 8 months time) at work. Not being able to focus can be a result of so many factors including; lack of sleep, stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, hormonal imbalance .. the list goes on. Yoga techniques, in particular the breathing exercises we call pranayama, can help to slow down our heart rate, improve breath control and increase concentration and energy. You'll have your 'to do lists' crossed off and all your draws labeled in no time :) 
3. Mobility! Feeling a wee bit stiff? It happens. Inactivity leads to a stiff body. Fact. Not only are our muscles passively short and tight from sitting down all day (work, driving, watching tv etc), but our connective tissue called fascia which acts like a sheet beneath the skin surrounding and connecting our muscles, and other organs too becomes stiff. Don't get me wrong, robot dancing was cool in the 80's but ... anyway, yoga can help to improve mobility and flexibility. 
4. Youth! You could feel younger. When we complain (or hear someone else complain) about getting old, it's usually when we are standing up from a seated position, if we have a sore back, or if we have put on some extra weight. Yoga can help relieve aches and pains, improve core strength and can also help us lose weight if we are commencing yoga after being inactive. You could feel younger in no time. 
5. Community! We have never been so connected due to social media, yet we have never felt so isolated because of it. Where did our sense of community go? When did we stop calling in at our mates place after work or school? What happened to that dance class, pottery class, or book club? Yoga is famous for community. When you attend a yoga class, you become part of a tribe and there's nothing quite like it. Be warned, once you find your tribe, you'll be doing annoying things like going on life changing yoga retreats and practicing yoga in the park with your yoga family. Just saying. 

There you have it. Happy Hormones, Focus, Mobility, Youth and Community. Five reasons (of about 500) to start yoga. There are so many levels and styles of yoga these days, it's not hard to find a class to suit you. My advice is, don't search instagram to find your yoga inspiration. Just go to a local class. Go somewhere easy for you to get to first, so it will be easier to commit. If you find the class isn't for you, don't give up on yoga, approach the teacher and ask their advise on a class which is slower, faster, cooler (temperature), more gentle, less spiritual, more traditional etc. A good teacher will happily recommend someone else. 

Happy OMing (yes ... I know that's extremely daggy!)