Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle means making choices that promote physical, mental, and emotional health.
Yoga has become one of the most popular mindfulness activities in the world. More than 300 million people in the world practice yoga, according to statistics from 2022. Its popularity can be attributed to the benefits that yoga offers. Through the practice of yoga, people can improve their physical, mental and emotional health. A lesser known fact is that yoga can heal spiritual wounds.
A spiritual wound is a form of suffering in which we are disconnected from our spiritual core. Spiritual wounds can manifest as feelings of isolation, despair, guilt, or shame. The spiritually wounded often feel a decrease in self-esteem and a detachment from the purpose of their life.
The key to healing spiritual wounds is to engage in practices that connect us with our bodies, minds, souls, and the universe. Yoga is one such practice. By forcing us to slow down and pay more attention to our body, environment, feelings and thoughts, yoga improves our physical condition and revitalizes our mind and soul. Next, we will discuss how yoga can heal spiritual wounds.
Yoga teaches you to appreciate the present moment
Most human suffering is rooted in an obsession with the past and the future. A man obsessed with the past will either mourn what he no longer has or attend to wounds that are no longer relevant. A man obsessed with the future will live forever in anxiety, anticipating negative results before they arrive, or will live forever in frustration, dissatisfied with the space between where he is and where he wants to be.
People can only attain spiritual equanimity when they accept and appreciate the present for what it is. One of the greatest spiritual benefits of yoga is that it forces us to turn our attention to the here and now. As we move through positions, we eliminate distractions, focusing only on present sensations, such as our breaths and bodies. Through this sustained approach, we gain a deeper appreciation of the present.
Yoga improves our fitness
Spiritual health and physical health are closely linked. Physical pain is too common a cause of suffering, and sustained discomfort can disconnect us from our spiritual core. And scientists have repeatedly shown that practicing yoga can improve physical health. Practicing yoga improves strength, flexibility, balance, and blood flow. Because they keep their body active, yoga practitioners reduce their risk of developing serious health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and obesity.
Yoga promotes emotional regulation
Excessive insistence on negative emotions can cause severe spiritual distress. When we let our emotions overwhelm us, we can no longer think clearly or make the right decisions. However, it can sometimes be difficult to get rid of emotional pain. Fortunately, practicing mindfulness through yoga can help us better regulate our emotions.
Because yoga teaches us to focus on the present moment, it allows us to better process what we feel. And when we observe our feelings without judging, it is easier to let go of negative emotions. The physical benefits of yoga can also help us rid our body of negativity. It is known that practicing yoga can lower cortisol levels, also known as the stress hormone. With reduced cortisol, we can cope with life stressors with a calmer disposition.
Yoga can better heal our spiritual wounds when we bring its benefits beyond the practice itself. By taking care of our body, showing greater love for the present, and managing our emotions in a healthy way, we can get rid of negative thoughts, beliefs, and feelings that keep our soul wounded. Book a yoga retreat to learn more about how yoga can improve your spiritual health.
Article written by Rosey June
