I have done yoga sporadically over the years. My softball coach in high school thought it would be a good idea to have a yoga teacher come and do yoga with the team a few times before practice. Nevertheless, this summer I have gotten more into it and have found a new passion for it.

We all know that yoga is great for many different reasons. Whether it is to build strength or to act as a stress reliever. Some of the benefits of yoga include increased flexibility, weight reduction, increasing muscle tone and more. As someone that suffers from stomach problems, is an avid gym goer and occasionally gets stressed from time to time, yoga has been a great way to help me in all three of these areas. Another great thing about yoga is that it is a for everyone, everybody, and every level. Trust me, I am no yoga expert and I sure cannot do the fancy things that some seasoned yogis can do. Nevertheless, I appreciate how much of a stretch practicing yoga can give you! Practicing meditation and breathing can help relieve stress and learning how to breathe like this can be used in any situation, anywhere.

For those of us that may have always wanted to try but feel like they won't be good at it, go for it and try something new! I work at my local YMCA so it is great that I get to try out whatever yoga class I want for free. Most of the time I am the youngest person in the class. Many gyms offer free classes or try to find a local yoga studio. I also love doing yoga at home while watching Youtube videos. One of my favorite channels to watch is "Yoga with Adrienne". She has so many videos that cover yoga for anxiety to yoga for tight hamstrings. A great app that I use to practice breathing and meditation is "Headspace", and it's free.

I highly encourage everyone to feel the power of yoga. Namaste!