How does yoga contribute to your overall well-being?

A regular yoga practice works on many levels and can highly contribute to increased well-being, since it affects both the body and the mind. Yoga practitioners often report a feeling of inner peace, serenity and physical well-being after the yoga class.

A regular yoga practice and in particular the combination of yoga with biomechanically-based posture correction exercises leads to a gentle build-up of strength and increased mobility. This can have a positive effect on posture and helps to reduce and/or prevent chronic pain. Yoga also helps to calm the central nervous system, thereby contributing to the relaxation of the yoga practitioner. My yoga classes include a combination of meditation, physical exercises (active and passive), breathing and mindfulness practices, which help to calm the mind, release negative emotions and uplift your mood, as well as reduce your stress levels. I attach great importance to designing each hour so that there are activating as well as relaxing elements.

Yoga can help you live in the moment and be present in the here and now. The practice can motivate you to listen to yourself in everyday life and to observe your emotional reactions, thus creating a space for better self-understanding and personal development. Understanding yourself and developing new habits through this understanding helps to strengthen the connection to yourself and others. Yoga practitioners also often report that yoga gives them a space for community and connection both with the other participants, spiritually and with nature.