I've been practicing yoga on and off for about 8 years now. Today I only practice Hatha/Vinyasa and I cannot live without it. My body craves for it when I don't sweat in a heated room for 90 mins in these mind body poses. Yoga has gained its popularity in its late 2000's, perhaps more so in the last decade because of its health benefits. Everywhere I go I see walking billboards of yogis, a growing number of studios in urban and rural locations, a roaring online presence and more integrated in wellness programs in workplaces or co working spaces as well. I also noticed it is the only women's fashion wear that has improved in the last decade is in yoga wear, strangely.
I practice yoga, not because it's become increasingly popular or the poses look good. I have come to discover that mind/body alignment is essential in our daily life functions. I am naturally high strung and easily stress-prone; exercising - like swimming, tennis, dancing, going to gym does help, nothing cures it like yoga. It is the only time I feel I can disconnect from the world to reconnect with the self. Prior to practicing yoga I was never able to sweat like normal people do when they perform rigorous exercises and it was not until I practiced hot yoga that proved I was quite normal and capable of sweating like everyone else in the gym. It also provided peace in the mind and a release in tension in my muscles when concentrating on these rhythmic meditative poses repeatedly focusing purely on posture and breathing (something I struggle with because of my asthmatic symptoms). Times I find myself in conflict or overwhelmed with thoughts, a I resort to my mat and the earth to find my alignment again. We can all reset!
