While it is seen as one of the big trends of 2015, yoga is so much more than that. Yoga is more than just a hot trend, as it has been seen to have both physical and psychological benefits. It has been practiced for hundred of years, with it being traced back to the fifth and sixth centuries BCE. Hundred of years of yoga have transformed it into a rich practice, with lasting effects.

I used to think that yoga was a complete and utter joke, that is, until I tried it. After my first class, I immediately regretted avoiding it for years and had respect for the instructors, and others that practiced it. Yoga is so much more than stretching, which is what I first thought, and you will quickly realize that if you decide to try it out.

A huge benefit of yoga is the effects it has on the body. Yes, it can help you chisel out a healthy figure, and help fill out yoga pants, but there are far greater benefits. Flexibility, strength, improved posture, bone strengthening, lowering blood pressure, deeper sleep, improved lung function and reduced inflammation are just some of the benefits that have been linked with continuous yoga practice. It also can help regulate adrenal glands, which is important because excessive cortisol has been linked with depression, weight gain, fertility issues, and immune system suppression. Another amazing link between yoga is that it can help with focus, as it improves coordination, reaction time, memory and IQ scores.

Another advantage of yoga is something you can do anywhere. While many people practice together in a formal class, it can be done at home, in your bedroom, outside, or anywhere you want. You can do fifteen minutes of it at the end of a busy day or do a 75 minute class in a studio, the options are endless.

Yoga is a mind and body experience that is unique than any other form of exercise. There are many different types of yoga, and each class and instructor is different. Because of that, it is important to find exactly what is best for you and your body.

The different levels of yoga also make it accessible to almost anyone. There are versions of yoga that range from mostly meditation with light movement, to hot yoga made for an intense workout. There are also versions of yoga for the elderly, pregnant, injured, beginners, and impaired. Since it is such a growing practice, there are an incredible amount of different studios, and many gyms over it as a class a few times a week. The variety allows for everyone to find a place to fit in.

In recent years, yoga started to look like a trend because of all the skinny yogis that would do yoga moves on the street and have someone photograph them. While all of those instagram accounts are nice to look at, yoga is deeper than that. It is for people of all ages, sizes, genders, and races to come together and find themselves. It is about pushing yourself to your limit, and embracing that change will come to your mind and body with time. Others in the class are not judging, or comparing themselves to you, rather it is an individual practice. The instructor is there to help correct you to the proper form, or change certain moves if you are injured.

So, before you judge it, go out and try it. You can start with one of many free youtube videos or try out a class at a studio. With time and practice you will feel a change in your body and mind, as the two work together to make you stronger. It is much more than just simple stretching, it is something that can positively impact your life for the better.

As they say in yoga, Namaste (the spirit in me acknowledges the spirit in you)