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Trudi Collins says
I love this article, and have shared it with lots of people, as it definitely sums up my experience of yoga. I had a baby earlier this year, and people are constantly commenting on how I “got my figure back”. What I’ve tried to explain, many times, and what most people don’t understand is that I’ve had my figure – my body – the whole time, and it has been perfect throughout, regardless of size and shape. I do think it is thanks to yoga that I’ve come back to my pre-baby shape fairly rapidly, not because I am any more special than anyone else, or because I’ve been dieting and exercising like crazy! Instead like you KL my body tells me what I need, in terms of food and movement, and that is what I do. There is no secret to this stuff!! Just invite yoga into your life, have some fun, and learn to trust yourself…it won’t just be your body that thanks you, either. Being more relaxed, feeling healthy, strong, supple, and connected to the universe definitely makes me an easier person to be around!
Thanks for writing this stuff KL – love your work T xx
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Trudi,
I’ve known a few yogis now who’ve had babies… and they report the same experience as you. You sum it up so well when you say “invite yoga into your life, have some fun, and learn to trust yourself”
Thanks for sharing!!!
KL
Chakra Man says
I have practiced iyengar yoga for 13 years and seen many benefits, I would always say you get the body you work for, the Natural body, even expectant mothers, always say it help with an easy birth
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Chakra Man,
I’d have to agree with you – we do have the body we work for as such. Our body is the sum total of everything we do.
Thanks for stopping by,
KL
Kate says
So well said and well written! Added yoga to my exercise routine about 4 months ago – I have asthma and anxiety and have already seen the improvement in these areas as well as overall fitness and state of mind. Thx for sharing!!
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Kate
Great to hear – love knowing how yoga has made a difference in people’s lives.
Terry says
Hi.
I have always wanted to have a figure, a slender body. But that doesn’t seem to work for me. Right now I am 16 and I don’t think dieting is the answer. So, I decided I want to work towards that with the help of yoga. I am a beginner right now, so I don’t know too much about yoga and how it would help. But your article inspired me, I am going to perform yoga regularly but I want to know will it be beneficial a 100%?
Thank you!
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Terry,
There’s no doubt that regular yoga practice can have a profound impact on our bodies & minds – exactly what impact it will have depends on who we are. We all have different bones, different body proportions, different muscle structure, different places we store fat… Yoga teaches us to take right action – looking after our well-being – without being attached to the results – wanting to look a particular way.
As you practice, you’ll feel better and better. Your body will change slowly over time and you’ll become more of who You are.
So will yoga be 100% beneficial? Yes & no – if you commit to the practice 100%, and let go of the results, it will be 100% beneficial. Will it give you what you’re looking for? Maybe not… but by then, you may want something else anyway 😉
Blessings,
KL
Jessica says
I’ve been thinking of enrolling myself in an upcoming yoga class for a little while now, and I wasn’t too sure about it, but now that I know the benefits of it , i’m definately going to start 🙂 i’d like to get an early start on my overall health, because i’ll have this body for the rest of my life! afterall, i’m only 14 😛
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Jessica,
Great attitude! I wish I’d started yoga at 14… instead of 25. Would have made a big difference to my life I think. Try a few different styles and teachers until you find the one that works for you.
B says
I wish I started at 25 instead of 40
🙂
I guess it’s never too late.
keep at it.
good luck!
Kara-Leah Grant says
Or even 15! Imagine!
Tenesia says
Fantastic article! I was searching for a little motivation. I just began doing hot yoga, which seems to take the pressure off my joints (I have rheumatoid arthritis) and I find I am more capable of performing some of the postures. I just finished up day four and reading this bumped my excitement up a little for tomorrow! Thanks!
Kara-Leah Grant says
Glad to be of service!
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Tenesia,
I hope you’re able to maintain that excitement & motivation. So worth committing to a yoga practice, as no doubt you’re beginning to discover.
Nancy says
Hello,
How many yoga classes should I receive per week? Right now I receive two per week, I was just wondering if that is enough.
Thanks!!
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Nancy,
Great question! And I have one for you… enough for what?
The more yoga you do, the faster you’ll see benefits and results. Two classes a week is twice as many benefits and results as one class. So you decide. Do you want the kind of results you can get from five classes a week, or two classes a week?
guy says
I hate life and am extremely dissatisfied and miserable. I have had a terrible life, very traumatic (unbelievably so), and at the moment I have no one who loves or cares about me (I have no family, grew up in foster care).
I went through a lot of gym-junkie workout binge phases, but lately I let myself go. I am in my mid-20’s. I finally decided I am going to get in shape again, but now I have a bad knee (and I hate cardio anyway), and I don’t have a car at the moment, so gym isn’t exactly a solution. I’m so out of shape at this point that for the first time in my life I am seeing fat on my stomach and even a little on my arms, and walking down a flight of stairs has me breathing heavier than normal. It’s really bad. I work with computers, and at home, and lately have become very introverted and just want to be alone, so I just spend all day working or playing on the computer. It’s really terrible, I know. Between my awful diet and complete lack of exercise, I know this is probably a large cause of my current unhappiness and somewhat antisocial behavior. Additionally, my body is basically falling apart and I bet it’s a result of the same.
The idea just popped into my head to maybe try yoga, ad to throw away all the aversions I had to it because it’s “a girl thing”. I guess that’s a result of growing up a bit and becoming more of a mature adult. Reading your blog on this page, you are basically convincing me that yoga is precisely what I need for my life. I hope that it will transform my body (back to what it was) and my depressed attitude toward life. Let’s see how it goes. I just don’t know where to begin.
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Guy,
Great idea! Just start… do you know any friends who go to yoga? Best bet is to find your way to a highly recommended kind and supportive yoga teacher who does great work with beginner’s and understands how to work with injuries. Ask around, check the local noticeboards and newspapers, go on the hunt.
If you can’t find a real live teacher, hit the internet as there are loads of resources online, including many free classes. If a teacher doesn’t work for you, try another teacher, and another. Don’t be put off if the yoga seems too ‘easy’ or not enough of a ‘workout’. When you find a teacher you like, invest in their DVD. Baron Baptiste and Rodney Yee both have some good DVD and books for beginners.
If you can though, you really want to find a good teacher to work with in person – it makes the world of difference!
Good luck with your search, and the beginning of your yoga adventure.
KL
María says
Estoy pasando por una fuerte depresión a raiz de ello me inscribí en yoga y danza arabe, llevo poco mas de una semana realizándolo…Mi pregunta es :¿ Veré los beneficios del yoga al realizar otra actividad como la danza arabe, o es mejor que realice solo yoga y deje las clases de danza arabe?..
Espero que me respondan
Saludos y gracias
Pippy says
Hola Maria
Creo que puedes hacer los dos, la danza arabe y yoga. Los dos ejercicios son muy bueno para tu cuerpo. Creo que los beneficios de los dos son similares. Me encanta yoga, siento que es bueno para mi mente y mi cuerpo. No he hecho danza arabe. Hacer lo que te encanta.
Espero que puedes entenderme y mi español!
Saludos! Pip
zoe says
Hello, I have been doing yoga for maybe a week. Bikram yoga to be exact. I am 22 and have had to take a break from modeling. I used to be very thin, long, lean and then boom. I made a huge decision to change my life and move to paris/let go of everything I once had. I gained weight although I was eating almost nothing and destroying myself in the gym twice a day. I felt a huge disconnect between my mind and body. so fast forward to now after 1 week of yoga. Something is working with yoga and I really feel the body and mind reconnecting.
So my question is a bit weird but well… my job is to have this insanely slim tight figure and i believe the body can do anything you want it to as long as you know how to do it and do it safely. So right now I need to drop some serious fat and remain tight and muscular. Can yoga alone give me this body or do I need to be doing some time in the gym as well to drop the weight faster?
I thought I had this all down to a system and now im throwing everything out the window and starting over BUT i can’t wait for a solution because … cough cough …. I have bills coming up and my body is my job…help!
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Zoe,
I can’t give you an answer. Bikram is an amazing practice, for many reasons, especially when first starting out with yoga. Try it every day for a month and see what happens.
And welcome to yoga!
zoe says
Unfortunatly I had to stop yoga now just after starting : ( …. NO!
I had a herniated disk when I was 17… saturday in class something happens and now I have tingling in my fingers pain in my neck back and down my calfs and more tingling under my feet. I was going to go see someone but I live in Paris and have yet to get insurance. They suggested I see an osteopath, my friends suggest the hospital and me, I have no idea…. The yoga people told me it is trapped nerve but for 2 days now it seems to be getting a tiny bit better… any advice?
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Zoe,
My advice is to find someone you trust in Paris who can help you out. I can’t know what you’re actually experiencing, nor what you should do, via a website on the other side of the world. That said, I too have had a herniated disc, and it did feel like tingling in my calf and feet. Any physical practice can exacerbate sciatica or a herniated disc if we push beyond our limits. It’s beyond the scope of a comment thread on a website to give you the right support and help. I’m sorry I can’t do more, and I hope you find the right person to help you.
Blessings,
Kara-Leah
Stephanie says
I needed this to get motivated! Thank you so much:)
However, I cannot afford a yoga class or a personal yoga instructor at the time:(
What’s the best type of yoga I could start practicing?
And what DVD’s or videos could I practice from?
I heard of Yoga Shakti from Shiva Rea
but what other videos? Help Me please
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Stephanie,
I can’t give you a definite answer, because I have no idea what kind of yoga you need. There’s plenty on YouTube, start checking them out and see which ones feel best for you.
Krista says
I have recently joined a yoga center and love what it’s doing already for my shoulder tension and backaches, but mostly for my state of mind. I found this article in my search to see what makes yoga effective for the body, and got the answer from this article, but also (and more importantly in my opinion) was completely amazed by the beautiful description of yoga’s effect on self image. What an incredible article! The outer self is what we tend to work on nowadays, like a new paint job on a car. But we don’t realize that changing the look of the vehicle doesn’t matter if the engine isn’t in prime condition. Great read; must share.
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Krista,
Great to hear from you – I love how this article just keeps on giving! It is amazing what yoga does for one’s state of mind, but I guess it’s hard to “sell” that in a photo of yoga.
Penny Gwenn says
Sad that this is the most popular article on your website.
Kara-Leah Grant says
Ah… ’tis the nature of what people search for in Google, and it brings many people to this website who may not otherwise discover it.
Carmen says
I just started yoga 2 weeks ago. I have been wanting to do yoga for a long time. But never really got to it, since I am a hyper person and I love to do aerobics and high energy stuff. But recently my health took a turn for the worse and my cardiologist suspended all vigorous activity. So I decided now would be a good time to start the yoga as to not lose to much muscle and stay strong. The first day I did yoga. I felt like it really stretched me out really good and even took away my stress headache by the end of the first week. Something precription drugs DID NOT DO. I am feeling great and look forward to my yoga. Having 4 hyper kids make it even better and they also join me sometimes. I try to do it twice a day. I am looking forward to advancing in yoga and just lovng myelf and appreciating my body more.
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Carmen,
Congratulations on starting yoga! It’s wonderful that your kids join in sometimes too. It will be interesting to see what other benefits you experience over time.
Many blessings,
KL
SP says
I was a runner for years. My hips and ankles were talking about it. I retired from running and have been doing Bikram religiously for a year. Best decision of my life. I dont have an ache to speak of and love my body. It has strengthened my mind, body, and soul.
Kara-Leah Grant says
Yeah! I love hearing stories like this. Thanks for your comment.
Blessings,
KL
prashant says
Hi…i went through ur article and was impressed. I know all the benifits of yoga, is i am from INDIA, but its always great to hear from a real experience person, I am re-inspired now, i mean i had started and stoped and started again and stoped again.. was not reguler, may be due to lazyness or whatever, But now i am again decided to make yoga as integral part of my daily routine, whatsoever may be the situation, just do practive yoga for an hour a day….i wil try to stick for it..and wil try to share the success story with all of you…thanks for the little addition to the inspiration….thanks
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Prashant,
Great to hear you’ve been inspired to make yoga a daily practice again. Glad to be of service.
Many blessings,
KL
Aiza says
Hi KL,
Great article!:) Just started yoga about 2 weeks ago, and I really need some motivation…
When you say “practice regularly”, what does it really mean?:) Im attendingg yoga glass about 2 to 3 times a week, but I still feel that my body is still stiff.I cannot even bend properly, to reach my feet.:( pls advise…thank you.:)
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Aiza,
I’d define regular practice as minimum three times a week. And if you’ve only been going to two weeks and you’re worried about still feeling stiff and not being able to reach your feet, I would suggest patience grasshopper! Yoga takes time, and persistence. Give it a year or so and see how you’re feeling then.
Caroline says
Dear Kara-Leah,
I have been doing Crossfit for 10 months and getting in shape again, after having my son, 2 years ago. I am 31 years old and my body is finally toned, I am very excited about that! Despite of this, I am feeling a little tired of being sore all the time, I want a change in my life. If I practice only Yoga, will i be able to keep up with a tight body? I just dont wanna loose the nice shape in my legs, butt and arms. Thanks!
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Caroline,
I have no idea – there are far too many variables to give any kind of definitive answer. What style of yoga? How often? At what intensity?
Dee Williams says
hi all, i have had serious problems with pelvic pain, and after several operations and no improvement, i am now seriously considering yoga. i also suffer from OCD, anxiety and live a hectic life due to full time study, work etc. Through alot of articles and comments ive been reading on this page i am really inspired as lots of people have mentioned how yoga has made a difference to this issues. I have brought the Forty days of Yoga resources, and cant wait to give this a good shot!! heres hoping for results 🙂
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Dee,
Sounds like you have a whole lot going on. I’d also suggest finding a good local yoga teacher you can work with – either attending classes or maybe even doing a private session once a week or once a month. Working with the right teacher can make a world of difference.
Casey says
I just wanted to say I really enjoyed reading this article. I have recently picked up yoga as a class, and I really have enjoyed it. I did yoga for a couple of months a few years ago, and I remember how great I felt. Since stopping, I felt something was missing. I kept trying to figure out why I didn’t feel as well as I used to. When I started these classes, that feeling came back. I finally realized that yoga is what was making me feel so good. Mind, body, and spirit. It wasn’t that one summer those years ago that made me feel great, it was the confidence I felt about myself, the calm of my mind, and the relaxation that yoga had helped me to achieve. I strive to continue this practice, so I can always feel this great. Your article is a wonderful representation of what this practice encompasses. I really enjoyed reading. Namaste.
Frank says
Hi!
First of all, great article! Now, I just wanted to know a few things. So, I have always had low self-confidence and low self-esteem which leads to not loving me or my body and, as you may know, that kind of screws up my social life (I have few friends and no girlfriend). My question here is: can yoga give me the self-confidence i need to love me and get more friends and a girlfriend? I really wanted a quick response if that’s possible, because if yoga really does all that, then i will definitely join some yoga class or something!
Blessings 🙂
Kara-Leah Grant says
Hey Frank,
Why do you need to know? Why not just go to class and find out for yourself? Commit to three classes a week for a month and see what happens. You’ll know.
KL
Kate says
I’ve been wanting to try out yoga for a long time now but couldn’t find any good resources to give me that extra push! This article is that push! Fantastic, thank you for this 🙂
ganpati says
Hi all;
I am 25 year old and currently I found my BP is 90/200
I am very scare . I was in depression for almost 3 year and I am not sleep we’ll that time but now I m out of depression. But my BP is so high. Now I am taking medicine . does yoga help me to stop this medicine and keep my BP normal as I am young. Need your answer thank you.
paul says
YES M8.
Lindsay says
Hi there!
Thanks for a great article. I’ve done some yoga in the past at home using the Yoga Studio app and really liked it. I’m trying to incorporate it back into my routine. My goals are exactly as you described, but I need a tangible goal of time spent practicing. What do you recommend for someone looking to change their body and mindset? I thought about starting at 15-30 minutes per day (routines) and then hopefully upping to an hour per day if I find I enjoy it. Thanks!
Natalia says
7 years ago I staretd my practice of Hatha yoga and that was the best decision of my life!!! Not only my body is greatful to me, but also I feel so much better in my mind. Especially pranayama practice and meditation are giving me super gret results, before I was an extreme FREAK! 😀
Alanna says
I just want to say. I have done yoga almost every single day for 2 years. I may be stronger… but I don’t see the results that other people see. My body is flabby as hell, I have a fat mid section. I do yoga because I enjoy it I feel refreshed for the day and I can sleep better at night. But for a tight fit body. It does nothing. I see all these yoga videos of these people that have the same flabby bodies. Only very few have tight bodies and I know they HAVE to do other things. Every yoga class I’ve gone to the yoga instructor was strong but underneath all the flab and thickness. People recommend it as a workout for a tight bod. But I personally never seen someone with a super tight body that just does yoga….