There are many ways to calm your mind and body down, and yoga is a great way to do so. Incorporating different breathing methods and moving your body in a yoga flow is an exceptional exercise choice. Supporting local businesses is also essential, and Lakewood Yoga is a perfect option to try out. Lakewood Yoga is suitable for people of all different skill levels, so it’s guaranteed that everyone will find a class that they love!
There are several types of yoga, ranging from a slower, meditational kind, like Yin, to a more intense form, like hot yoga. Yin focuses on breathing and relaxation while holding poses slowly. On the other hand, hot yoga is just how it sounds–the room is turned up to high temperatures to sweat and detoxify your body, loosen your muscles, and improve cardiovascular health, all while increasing flexibility (and your mood)! Lakewood Yoga offers multiple classes for you to pick from and enjoy. A few kinds include Hatha Yoga (meditation and holding postures), Power Yoga (a quicker, more active pace), Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation), and even Prenatal Yoga for soon-to-be mothers.
Yoga benefits your physical and mental health in various ways, ultimately allowing you to live a happier and healthier life. Like most forms of exercise, yoga has been scientifically proven to reduce anxiety and stress. Stress hormones become lowered, and brain chemicals like endorphins and GABA (which are both feel-good chemicals) are released, putting you in a better mood! Additionally, reducing stress often leads to better sleep habits, allowing your body and mind to calmly and quickly fall asleep when you rest your head on your pillow at night.
“No matter what style of class I take, I always leave feeling so aligned and light physically as well as mentally,” Frankie Bruening shared about her regular yoga experience. “I also feel refreshed because it’s an hour of my day that I get to reset and adjust my mindset.”
Meditation is another powerful tactic that yoga incorporates that can leave your mind at peace in times of stress or worry. It only takes a few minutes and can be done anytime, anywhere (which is helpful for whatever circumstances you may be in). Benefits don’t end with the session; starting your day with a calming meditation can be super beneficial to your day-to-day life, allowing the effects to carry on during work, school, or sports. Well, what exactly is meditation? Meditation is a practice that involves focusing or clearing your mind using a combination of mental and physical techniques. It’s when you can tune into your body through mindfulness, a practice that’s been around for thousands of years and is used by different cultures.
Lakewood High School has a wonderful strength and conditioning coach, James Gajewski, known by students as Coach Jimmy. He coaches and lifts with various teams, from football to bowling. His practices last around an hour, the majority of the time lifting, but on days after game days or intense practice, he will incorporate yoga and meditation into his practices.
“The most undervalued and overlooked benefit from practicing yoga and meditation is your breath work,” Gajewski said. “In face of psychological or physical stressors of practice and competition, an athlete’s ability to control their breath may enhance their performance.”
Bruening is a nurse at Cleveland Clinic, which can be stressful, intense, and busy, leaving her on her feet all day.
“Turning my brain off for an hour and just focusing on breathing and being completely present in my body has been extremely helpful with managing my stress,” Bruening said.
We experienced an early yoga session at Lakewood Yoga on the morning of Tuesday, March 25. We took a class called “Sunrise Slow Burn & meditation.” When we first arrived, Lauren Miceli, our yoga instructor, greeted us. We were able to borrow mats, blankets, pillows, and/or yoga blocks. We walked into the room, which was very warm, dimly lit, and very relaxing. We are slightly familiar with yoga but not experts by any means. Miceli was clear and helpful with the instructions for getting into different poses.
“This is your practice, go at your own pace,” Miceli would say during the practice. Going in as someone unfamiliar with yoga and experiencing gym anxiety, hearing this was very comforting. The community Lakewood Yoga builds is for sure a judgment-free zone. Overall, waking up with breathing work, some intense stretches, and calming meditation is a great way to start your day, but doing this at any time of day has endless benefits.
Yoga is beneficial for the mind, body, and spirit, ultimately contributing to positive factors in life. Lowering anxiety and stress, strengthening your muscles, and increasing flexibility are all outcomes of yoga that everyone can love and enjoy. Lakewood Yoga offers several different classes and instructors that can pave the way to the start of your yoga journey. Anyone can do it, no matter the age–the first step is to try out a kind that works best for you!
