The Best Of: 101 Benefits of Yoga

It's no wonder that there are a multitude of articles about yoga, meditation, pranayama, etc., because these practices stimulate your creativity in the extreme. Yogis find themselves experiencing so much more than they can express... and yet we know we must try!

Therefore I am going to occasionally share the best of the best of these. Here is The Best Of 101 Benefits of Yoga by Yogadrienne (click the link for the whole list):

Increases optimism: hey, we can all use a little more of that at times. Okay, that's a big understatement. We could use it a lot more of the time.

 

Decrease in cellular aging: vanity aside (and it really needs to take a back seat more often, am I right?) let's slow down aging for health reasons, and to spend more time with our loved ones. Call me old-fashioned.

 

Improves posture. (Increases in strength, especially core strength, flexibility, and bodily awareness can lead to improvements in posture. Moreover, each pose give specific attention and focus to proper alignment.) That can't be bad.

Discovery or connection with one’s sense of purpose or meaning in life: everyone knows finding your purpose gives their life focus, direction, and meaning. Why not make it easier to discover with some yoga?

Protects against future injury: I can't count how many injuries I've avoided or will avoid... really, I can't. But I know they're many.

 

Improves symptoms of certain neuropsychiatric disorders. (Including schizophrenia and ADHD.): Better behaved kids = happier and productive teachers = smarter emotionally intelligent children = better leaders = better world.

Who's with me??

Putting the U in Community

One of the things I like best about our community at the Ashram is that people feel free to express whatever’s on their mind, and frequently what’s in their hearts.

You can get small talk anywhere. 

In many offices or social circles, it’s not customary to share about things that matter deeply to you, such as your concern over a sick relative, or perhaps your own ailment, or something that’s troubling you. 

When there's business to be done in a work environment, many people's hearts close up.

But in a truly supportive community, you'd never hear, "I'd complain, but who'd care?" They do care - that's the difference.

Or if you want to share some deep life lesson you just learned, or respond to someone’s query with your own extensive knowledge on the subject, you can do that in a nurturing community. In fact, your contribution is expected.

That's another thing a great community does - it gives back in the form of giving you a purpose, particularly if it has charitable endeavors. It reminds us that we all have something to give, and how good it feels to give it. You gain in the giving.

And when you have good news to share? It will be truly celebrated. Not with jealousy, but true appreciation.

I googled “what makes a good community” and found a great article where six community workers express their views on this topic, and it's too good not to share: What Makes a Good Community? They’re from Northern Ireland, which demonstrates the principles for a good community are universal – I recommend giving it a glance.

I learned that you can't have community without open hearts. Who wouldn't want to hang out in a place like that?