I have been working out for so long without stretching that my muscles were tight and stretching them was out of my body's comfort zone. This was one reason I fell in love with hot yoga. In a heated room, you do not immediately feel the effects of stretching because the damp heat lubricates tight muscles; but in 24 hours, it might be quite a chore to move those sore muscles. I started using an msm supplement once a day to get through the first weeks of muscle soreness; a godsend because soreness can make you feel heavy and lethargic.
Many Christians see yoga as an obstruction to Christianity. I see it as an enhancement. Like meditation, Christ-centered yoga (and other various forms) acts as a chasm or tunnel that ushers me to enter into the deeper chambers (the presence) of God. It does this by helping me to clear away the weights, worries, and the negative mindsets that so easily latch onto me as I go through the day and then to release them to Christ. Colossians 3 tells us to put off the old man. Through subduing of the body and controlling the breath the choreography of yoga can calm the restless beast in each of us allowing us to open our hearts more fully to pilates memphis our Creator.
You can do all this with Yoga. It combines breathing and a series of positions all of which promote harmony between the mind and the body. When you concentrate on your breathing while assuming the various postures, you are toning your body and building muscle plus getting rid of stress and improving your memory. Yoga is also great for strengthening the back. It can even reduce the amount of sleep your body requires and lengthen your lifespan. To be truly fit, the mind as well as the body must become strong.
A lot of people want to go for the thinnest mat that gives them the most padding. I strongly suggest going for a thicker hot yoga memphis tn mat for your hot yoga class. Many of the positions will be really strenuous on your joints, having the extra cushioning will do you wonders. I have even seen people have two yoga mat's in their Bikram yoga class, they will switch out for the thicker mat when doing these positions. I personally think that's a little excessive, but whatever you prefer!
Yoga, as an exercise and discipline helps us slow down. It is the integration of strength building exercises aligned with breath. As the breath slows down, so does the mind. As the mind slows down, we can cast out negative thoughts and fears that overshadow our faith. As we begin to clear out our doubts and fears, we can renew our minds and embrace all of God's promises to us. Can we do this without yoga? Absolutely! The real question is, "Do we have too?" Absolutely not! Many people, as well as Christians flock to yoga several times a week, not just for the physical benefits, but the mental benefits as well. hot yoga provides another opportunity for quelling the mind and centering the soul. Yoga can be a moving meditation to God. For me and many other Christians, that is exactly what it is.
The place to begin yoga is within you. It always has been and it always will be. Even when you are in a class watching a teacher and trying to get into and figure out the perfect yoga poses. Are you truly aware in the moment, inside of yourself as to what your body is feeling and experiencing? Or are you outside of yourself trying to get somewhere else or to be someones else yoga pose? Are you able to stay focused and present in your body at work, at the gym, hanging out with friends? Yoga practice is not simply doing yoga poses for 1 hour. It's a life path. And the benefits are amazingly available for everyone.