How to Lead a Healthy Lifestyle Through Yoga

Yoga on its own won't make you healthy; especially if you celebrate after an exceptional class with your favorite take-out. Yoga is a discipline that can make your muscles strong and your limbs flexible; and if you practice meditation and breathing techniques along with your Downward Dogs, you'll experience a whole host of mental benefits as well. But to lead a really healthy lifestyle, you have to commit to a balanced and healthy diet, more and better sleep and regular aerobic exercise along with your yoga practice. Make yoga the nucleus around which your commitment to lead a healthy lifestyle revolves.

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Items you will need

·         Yoga mat

Step 1

Use yoga to improve your sleep. Practice a few calming yoga poses, such as Mountain or Child's pose, before bed to enhance sleep. Avoid energizing poses such as Sun Salutation at this time. While the physical practice of yoga itself promotes better sleep, you can stack the deck in your favor by changing habits such as going to bed a few minutes earlier each night. More sleep means more energy.

Step 2

Take stock of the contents of your pantry and fridge. Leading a healthy lifestyle through yoga doesn't mean you have to become a vegetarian or give up your favorite indulgences entirely, but it does mean watching what you eat so that you don't undo the good you're doing to your body and mind by practicing yoga. Opt for a diet heavy in fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, cereals and pasta and lean meats. Switch out your sugary snacks for wholesome handfuls of nuts and seeds.

Step 3

Practice yoga every day in order to lead a healthier lifestyle. You don't have to devote hours of your time at a yoga studio to get the most out of your yoga practice. A little yoga every day is infinitely more beneficial than some yoga a couple of times a week. You can roll out your mat before work for a quick series of Sun Salutations to feel energized and upbeat or block out some time before dinner to delve deeper into your practice by exploring all the little nuances of your favorite yoga poses.

Step 4

Personalize your yoga practice. In fact, the more pertinent you can make your yoga practice to your fitness level, stress levels and personality, the better. Leading a healthy lifestyle is not all about carrot sticks and regimentation. It involves making choices that make your heart sing and strengthen your inner champion. Pick the style of yoga that resonates with you, even if it's not the popular choice. Do the poses that empower or comfort you; and decide on the spot whether you need an energetic or restorative yoga practice. By taking command of your yoga practice you'll be more inclined to stick with it and feel healthier, mentally and physically.

Step 5

Breathe. Yes, you do it all day, every day; but the type of breathing that you practice can make a tremendous difference in the quality of your life. Your life force, or prana in Sanskrit, is enhanced in part by how you breathe. During the practice of yoga, your inhalations and exhalations lengthen and deepen, leaving you with a heightened sense of well-being. Not only that, but there are specific yogic breathing techniques that you can learn to develop your respiratory capacity. So, if you want to lead a healthy lifestyle through yoga, take what you've learned about breathing on the mat and use those techniques throughout the day.

Step 6

Spend a few minutes before and after your yoga practice meditating. Sit in an easy cross-legged pose before your yoga practice, then lie comfortably on your mat after your practice and breathe deeply and evenly through your nose. Don't try to control the flow of your thoughts; just watch them float by as you give all your attention to your breath. By spending this time in quiet repose you're limiting the amount of real or imagined stress that stops you from leading a healthy lifestyle. Stress can eat away at your confidence and decision-making abilities; by practicing yoga poses, breathing techniques and meditation, you'll develop the strength to handle stress with more equanimity.