For about five or six years now, I’ve consistently practiced yoga. This practice has undoubtably improved my flexibility and strength, however, the greatest benefit I’ve enjoyed is increased bodily awareness. It is so much easier for me to tell when I am tight or unbalanced, and instead of letting that tension sit in my body, I can fix it.
Stretching is a great release. It encourages the practicer to fully embody themselves. It encourages them to yield. The best yoga practicers are not those more flexible, they are the ones that move in a way that is unique to their body. They spend extra time in tense and tender spots. They focus on the rhythm of their breath.
In moments of stress or sadness, I will book myself a very difficult yoga class. Laying in savasana at the end of class, I will realize I was so focused on the movement that my troubles left me alone for the hour. I will notice that much of my negative energy is gone. Stretching the body is like wringing a towel. Instead of sitting, wet and cold, I release what is old and lay myself to dry in the sun.