Is Yoga worth your time...?
Last week I mentioned that I was doing a 15-minute per day yoga challenge for 30 days called KOKORO Yoga 30-Day Challenge. It’s a program by Mark Divine, former commander of the Navy SEALS, and his stepdaughter Catherine Divine. "This particular type of yoga is a blend of ancient yoga traditions combined with a modern day view. KOKORO Yoga is strongly grounded in the ancient science of yoga and other noble warrior traditions. As a modern integrated practice, KOKORO Yoga spans traditional yoga, marital arts, functional training, and invaluable lessons from Mark Divine’s Unbeatable Mind lifestyle and leadership approach."
"Kokoro” is a Japanese word meaning warrior spirit or to merge heart and mind into your actions. Yoga means “to yoke, to unify or to integrate.” As Mark describes it, “At the mental level it means to integrate your ego mind with your witnessing mind. It also means to integrate your body, mind, and spirit into a whole, as well as to live life in a more integrated, balanced manner with simplicity, spirituality, and non attachment to material distractions."
This explanation of this specific style of yoga from a Navy SEAL, I think gives men “societal permission” to do yoga without misinformation that it is solely for women or for really flexible people. It can be challenging and very rewarding…for everyone. So guys, please keep reading. This speaks to you too!
Why KOKORO Yoga?
There are many styles of yoga. KOKORO Yoga made sense for me as I have much respect for the SEALFIT coaches and really like the idea of incorporating a traditional and martial arts aspect to it. Additionally, this aligns with my goals and purpose.
Why practice yoga of any kind?
For the past few months I’ve been incorporating a few yoga poses into my morning ritual to help me start my day as well as incorporating it pre and post training. It really helps with recovery, focus, mobility in hips and joints, and overall wellness. When I went a couple of days without a few yoga poses I noticed I didn’t feel as good and didn’t recover as fast from a tough training session. Ergo keep doing yoga.
Benefits?
Speaking of benefits, let’s look at some. Keep in mind there are numerous types of yoga that we won’t go into now. I’ve listed just four of the many benefits of yoga in general:
Sleep better - Harvard researchers found that eight weeks of daily yoga significantly improved sleep quality for people with insomnia. Another study at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that twice-weekly yoga sessions helped cancer survivors sleep better and feel less fatigued ~Daily Burn
Lowers blood sugar - "In people with diabetes, yoga has been found to lower blood sugar in several ways: by lowering cortisol and adrenaline levels, encouraging weight loss, and improving sensitivity to the effects of insulin.” ~ Yoga Journal
Helps with arthritis - "When it comes to the benefits of different types of yoga, a study indicated that iyengar yoga, known for its use of props like belts, blocks, and other positioning aids, might help people with rheumatoid arthritis.” ~ Everyday Health
Mental well-being - “Regular yoga practice creates mental clarity and calmness; increases body awareness; relieves chronic stress patterns; relaxes the mind; centers attention; and sharpens concentration,” says Dr. Nevins. ~ Osteopathic.org
Resources to get you started:
So, is yoga worth your time?
What is...?
For me it definitely is and it doesn’t have to take up much time. A little bit goes a long ways. If you have ever been interested in it, take a look at the resources listed above. Find what works best for you and discard the rest.
To your journey,
Lisa Schaffer
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