Many are going to begin yoga as part of a New Years resolution. This resolution ranks high on the list of potential life-changing behaviors, since yoga has been shown to decrease stress, increase longevity, promote flexibility, weight loss, and emotional well-being, tone muscles, increase cardiovascular endurance, improve posture and concentration, boost mood, and naturally remedy a wide variety of health problems. In other words, yoga is the veritable magic pill for many physical and psychological problems that run rampant in modern society. Why, then, isn't everyone on planet earth waking up to a daily ritual of Ujai breathing and "om" chanting?
Presumably, like any other New Years' resolution, it is difficult to find the time/energy/motivation to haul oneself onto a yoga mat while being distracted by a mile long to-do list, an easily-reachable snooze button, or a tempting happy hour. For whatever reason, shifting attention to one's physical self--especially during the holidays--is a concept that usually winds up on the back burner. If a healthy body in fact leads to a healthy mind and a healthy spirit, however, yoga should be a top priority for anyone who feels overwhelmed by the overindulgence and drama that often accompanies the holiday season.
For those new to yoga, where to begin? For starters, the style of yoga should match the health and personality of the student. An overweight, middle-aged individual who has refrained from exercise for decades should not begin with advanced power Vinyasa. Conversely, an avid marathoner will likely get bored in a slow-paced Hatha class; in fact, many athletes argue that yoga is the most difficult form of physical exercise because it challenges us to go beyond our comfort zones, both physically and mentally. Those who enjoy working up a sweat will have no problem finding a challenging yoga class, but they must know where to look, conduct careful research about various styles and instructors, and, ideally, test the waters of different styles before committing to one practice.
One of the most fascinating aspects of yoga is that the most simple concept is also usually the most challenging to master. For example, the foundation of every yoga pose is a particular, intentional type of breathing. By the first difficult pose during a 90-minute class, however, many students have not only forgotten to breathe, but are unintentionally holding their breath in, which makes the class much more difficult and less enjoyable. Consciously remembering not only to breathe, but to breathe correctly, is a skill that takes many years to master.
Solutions to life's challenges are, similarly, oftentimes more simple than they first appear. Once simple skills, such as breathing, are mastered, they carry over into life "off the mat," as my favorite yoga teacher calls it (reminding us that there is yoga, and then there's everything else). Resolving to practice consistently in 2010--or to start for the first time--is therefore the best gift you can give yourself this season.
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