I definitely know how it feels when I leave the yoga mat with ease, and I’m sure you also love the feeling in your body after a good yoga class but have you ever thought about why it feels so good?

In a world that often feels like a relentless sprint, the ancient practice of yoga emerges as a sanctuary, offering a haven for both the body and the mind. Yoga has stood the test of time, proving to be a holistic approach to well-being that transcends physical exercise.

Yoga is not just good for you but has the potential to be transformative, enhancing your physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life.

Also, check out “Why choosing the right yoga mat is important to you“

Here are 3 good reasons why your body is so happy after yoga.

1. Body – Yoga addresses the rigid culture in which we live.

The Western world has become a sedentary society, which is why yoga is so important: its focus is on breathing and movement, and research shows that increased movement in a sedentary society is absolutely essential for health. Yoga gets you moving, and you might not pay much attention to your breath in your day-to-day life, but the awareness of breath cultivated through yoga can help you manage the stresses of everyday life.

2. Mind – Yoga trains the mind.

With a sedentary society comes a confused mind: because your body is inactive, your mind is in constant activity. Yoga quiets the mind because there are so many focus points that help train the mind: the breath, movements, eye focus, postures, and sequences.

At first, you focus on the breath, and then, when the mind has learned the ability to concentrate, you can focus on several things at once. Step by step, you expand the mind through yoga. Without control, the mind jumps all over the place, distracting you from working on the parts of yourself that can actually help you develop. Through yoga, you quiet the mind and develop the ability to process what comes up during a yoga practice – the good as well as the more challenging things.

3. Soul – Yoga teaches us how to take care of ourselves.

Yoga teaches you to be loving towards yourself. How you can be compassionate towards yourself. Humans basically have many self-destructive and self-limiting tendencies, and you are often your own worst critic.

Through yoga, you are confronted with the different sides of yourself, so you have the opportunity to see them. Inside your muscles, are stored the memories of all emotions you have ever experienced: sadness, fear, anger, etc. Through the yoga poses, you can work with these memories and thereby process your past.

It is yoga that allows you to let go and release your emotions. Practicing yoga means engaging in a healing process: mentally, emotionally, and physically. Yoga helps you learn to accept all the parts of yourself that are not as developed as you might like them to be.

There are too many benefits of yoga for me to list them all here, and they all address the body, mind, and soul. The beauty of this practice lies not only in the poses but in the space between them—a space where you can find peace, balance, and the boundless potential for growth.

As you roll up your yoga mat, you can carry the serenity, strength, and flexibility of body, mind, and spirit cultivated on it into the canvas of your everyday life as support and guidance on your journey.