Symptoms of practicing yoga

Written by Shanna Willie, Yoga North ISYI 200+ Hour Teacher Training Program Student

Hoping for some good things… 

I showed up to yoga teacher training with an agenda, like anybody does I suppose. I was looking for intentional community, growth, and learning to start. I wanted to keep my expectations broad so I would be open and available to the unexpected benefits that yoga has always offered me in the past. Sure enough after only two full months lots of unforeseen benefits have bubbled up. My work ethic history and background tell me that any benefit takes hard work, lots of effort, and tons of time. But this is not the case in this teacher training. 

Here are some of the symptoms of practicing yoga more often.

• Unexpected joy
• More energy
• Uncomfortable feelings
• Better mobility
• Healthier relationships
• Less anxiety
• Decreased depression
• More lightheartedness
• Greater awareness 
• An updated understanding of my own limits and boundaries
• Spontaneous emotions
• Increased resiliency 
• Better concentration 
• Calmer
• Contentment
• Reduced pain
• Diminished negativity
• More high-quality sleep
• Increased clarity

SomaYoga can lighten the emotional load.

Don’t let that “uncomfortable feelings” scary you either. “Uncomfortable” does not mean “painful.” I’ve found these uncomfortable feelings to be a relief. It’s like when you get to flex and stretch a muscle that hasn’t been moved for a while, it might creak and moan initially, but the muscle loves the movement essentially. Being able to feel an emotion that you haven’t felt in a while, releases that emotion and you’ve lightened your load. 

But don’t take it from me, this is just my experience. I wonder what you might be noticing after practicing yoga somewhat consistently for 2 months yourself…