Count on Yoga - 30 reasons to do Yoga

Looking for a reason to start paracticing yoga? Dr. Timothy McCall, author of Yoga as Medicine, lists 30 ways yoga can improve your health and wellbeing.

I will list one reason per day in April; so have a look each day to learn how yoga works to improve health, heal aches and pains, and keep sickness at bay. Its never too late to start reaping the many benefits of yoga!

1. FLEX TIME

Improved flexibility is one of the most obvious benefits of yoga. During your first class, you probably won't be able to touch your toes, never mind do a backbend! But if you stick with it, you'll notice a gradual loosening, and eventually, seemingly impossible poses will become possible. You'll also probably notice that aches and pains start to dissapear. That's no coincidence. Tight hips can strain the knee joint due to improper alignment of the thigh and shinbones. Tight hamstrings can lead to a flattening of the lumbar spine, which can cause back pain. And inflexibility in muscles and connective tissue, such as fascia and ligaments, can cause poor posture.

Oh the days of a NZ summer at "the mount"... the endless supply of warm sunshine on your skin, the soft sand between your toes, the sound of the waves playfully rolling over the beach, and the spectacular view from the top of Mauao. We are lucky to live in such a magical place...and even luckier that this is what we experienced during our summer of outdoor yoga classes. Who could ask for a more beautiful and serene yoga studio than out in nature...?

....Well... most of the classes went smoothly and ended in a state of "bliss," but we also shared a few interesting moments along our summer yoga journey...

The grueling journey climbing up the mount...why doesn't it ever get any easier?!!

People nearly stepping on us as they walk or run by..."like you didn't see me sitting here?"

Sand, sand everywhere! Stuck to the skin, inside the ears, sometimes the eyes, engraved in the yoga mat, ends up in the car... you know the story...

The time we learned a new way to really "cleanse our souls." One day while we were in a blissful state of savasana (relaxation pose) a big wave decided to completely wash over us and carry away my wallet, jandles, and water bottle...good bye mobile phone...

I have been told that I have a calming and soothing voice... so calming apparently that I have even put a few people to sleep during savasana. One person in particular would end up snoring nearly every time...you know who you are! :-) This is true relaxation!

I understand that teenage boys can be a bit "curious" about the female body and I do like to have my picture taken, but I'm not too keen on you taking a photo of my bum while I am in downward dog... at least get a photo of me in a more flattering pose next time. :-)

We would get the occassional friendly dog who would weave in and out of our mats wanting to show us how downward dog was really done ...but there is one instance that sticks in my mind which I can't help but giggle every time I think about it. We were once again in savasana, in a calm and peaceful state... eyes closed and bodies relaxed.. I hear a "bounce, bounce, bounce" off in the distance and the sound is getting closer...I open my eyes and see a rubber ball hit 3 people in a row, disrupting their state of relaxation!! We all couldn't help but laugh!! Class is over...

Even through some of the funny mishaps we had during the summer, I loved every minute of it! The benefits of yoga in nature highly outweighs the more annoying aspects we sometimes endured. Watching the sunrise or set on top of mauao was always breathtaking, the smell of the fresh air, the sound of the waves and the birds, the serene and peaceful evenings, and the deep connection you began to feel as you became "one" with the Earth. These are the things we live for in life. Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away... I had alot of those moments this summer. Thank you for sharing them with me. Namaste, Lauri :-)

P.S. If you have any stories, comments, or experiences from the summer yoga that you would like to share...please post below. It would be great to hear from you! :-)