Yoga calms and soothes the mind with a focus on breathing, and this de-stressing practice is not just hot air!
Southern Maryland’s growing health and wellness community is marked not only by the opening of the new Evolve Yoga + Wellness studio, but by the fact that classes are filling up faster that you can say ‘Namaste!’ With a soft opening in November, the studio recently celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony, at its convenient location in the Wildewood Shopping Center. The studio and practice have received a very warm welcome from St. Mary’s and surrounding counties.
This demand comes as no surprise as more and more people seem to be waking up to the positive affects of a routine yoga practice. Summertime saw an influx of participants at the Leonardtown Wharf’s free Sunrise Yoga classes. The Saturday Sanskrit devotional time grew in popularity and even helped provide donations to a local women’s shelter, by requesting non-perishables from those attending. It seems as though everyone is realizing the self soothing impact of yoga.
With a focus on breathing and relaxation, yoga promotes a feeling of well being and health. Many yoga asanas, or postures, eliminate stress almost immediately such as Child’s Pose (Balasana). This restful posture restores balance and harmony to the body. It puts the mind in to an open and receptive state. When incorporated, this yoga posture promises to eradicate stress and reduce its harmful effects. The technical detail of practicing each posture is key, and the instructors at the Evolve Yoga + Wellness studios are not newcomers to the Yoga scene. Studio Director, Ann Hunt has studied yoga throughout the US, Central America, and India during the 25 years she has been practicing.
A study recently published by Boston University noted that Yogis who hit the matt three times a week reported a better mood and lower anxiety compared with people who walked for the same amount of time. Regular yoga practice ups your brain’s level of the calming chemical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The study by Chris Streeter, MD, from Boston University School of Medicine (Massachusetts) demonstrated that increased GABA levels measured after practicing yoga postures are associated with improved disposition and feelings of happiness. Their findings establish a link between yoga and higher levels of GABA, as well as improvements in mood and anxiety based on psychological assessments. Read more about these findings at www.bu.edu
Yoga is for all members of the family, and can be a powerful tool in connecting and setting a foundation for a healthy lifestyle, gratitude, and overall spirituality. Children today are also under a lot of stress. With hectic social calendars and new pressures in the classroom, yoga can help develop better body awareness, self-control, flexibility and coordination.
Slowing down the fast pace of the holidays to nurture and focus the mind, body, and spirit can be the ultimate de-stressor with the year end crunch upon us. A balanced, centered lifestyle will bring peace to your holiday season and is certainly on all our wish lists… check it twice and you will see!
