Yoga Can Help You Boost Your Confidence!

If you’ve ever watched someone like Tara Stiles or Rachel Brathen move their bodies through a quick yoga routine, you would have seen firsthand the impact yoga can have on your body. Not only does it create lean, toned limbs but it’s also a tonic for your self-esteem and confidence too.

Keep reading to find out how!

1. Yogic breathing enhances self-esteem

One of the first things you’re taught in yoga is how to breathe. This might sound weird, after all if we didn’t breathe we’d be dead, right? But actually, while we do all breathe, very few of us are doing it properly.

Modern and demanding life puts us in a constant state of stress. We’re worried about meeting deadlines, public speaking, dating and nasty gossip. We’re always thinking of things that can go wrong and can often feel like nowhere is safe.

As a result, we spend most of our time breathing through our chest. This type of breathing flicks on the ‘fight or flight’ response, which immediately sends your stress levels and a flood of chemicals rocketing through your body. In short, it damages your health and wellbeing. Your confidence, too. It’s hard to feel confident when your heart is racing and your palms are sweaty.

By switching to yogic breathing, which is breathing through our bellies, the chemicals in our bodies change and our state of mind adjusts to be more calm, peaceful and relaxed. Our heart is no longer racing and our palms don’t sweat. Instead we feel capable of tackling any problem with ease and confidence.

2. Yoga increases faith in self

After around eight weeks of yoga, research has shown that participants aren’t just more flexible and toned, they’re also more confident. This is because slowly but surely you begin to reconnect with your body and understand how it works and how you can use it to your advantage.

By reconnecting with your body, you allow yourself to try new things and improve on your strengths and weaknesses. And as you grow, becoming more and more comfortable with yoga, you begin to realize just how amazing and incredible your body really is. What was once an almost impossible pose to complete, you can now do with your eyes closed!

It also allows you to perform everyday tasks better and so leads to increased confidence in all aspects of your life.

3. There’s a level for everyone

There’s nothing worse than walking into a class and realizing that the skill level is light-years away from what you’re capable of. Which is why yoga is perfect for both beginners and ex-gymnasts!

Everyone in a yoga class is at different levels – from the yoginis to the first timers. And amazingly, all skill levels are catered for within the one class.

This is because your yoga teacher can tailor the class to suit you. She’ll give you a variety of options within the one pose, each one getting progressively ‘harder’.

You simply select the option that feels comfortable for you and voila – you are right amongst it, participating along with everyone else! Add the fact that there’s a bunch of different types of yoga from hot yoga to gentle yoga, you’re sure to find one that suits you.

Yoga isn’t one of those fitness fads where only the fittest and healthiest can participate. Even if your health is atrocious, you can still join and benefit from a yoga class. And if that doesn’t give you a boost of confidence, the praise from your teacher when you nail a move will!

4. Increased fitness = less flabby bits = more confidence!

Okay, so there will be some of you out there that see yoga as a bit of a passive activity. After all, don’t you just wiggle your body, stretch, and then have a nap at the end? Well, while it might appear that way, yoga is actually exercise. And tough at that!

If you don’t believe me, consider this: professional football players, hockey players and soccer players are all encouraged by their coaches to try yoga, not just for injury rehabilitation and prevention, but for strength building, toning and flexibility. In fact, vinyasa yoga can burn 594 calories an hour.

And what do you get at the end of a good work out? Well provided you don’t snack out at Donut Hut afterwards, you get weight loss and muscle tone!

And the better you feel about your body and your health, the better you will feel in general. You’ll certainly be more comfortable rockin’ that amazing mini-dress!

So as a summary: try yoga. Try it for six-weeks and if you don’t feel healthier, happier and more confident, I’ll eat my hat. Okay, maybe not my hat, but maybe some leafy greens.

Peace, love and light beautiful ones!

Cover photo: tumblr.com