Why You Should Practice Yoga
OK, guys, if you’ve been a reader for awhile, then you know that I’m a little bit into fitness!
Yes, I’m a busy farmwife/gardener/homesteader, but I still try my hardest to make it a priority.
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure here. Also I’m not a medical professional- I’m just sharing my personal story. Thanks for supporting my blog!
I started off my fitness journey years ago by running, but as time went on I’ve done various things- from HIIT workouts, to CrossFit, to yoga.
I’m here to tell you that yoga is one of the most beneficial exercises a homesteader can do!
Now, you may be thinking to yourself, “What? Why on earth do I need yoga when I’m active every day on my homestead/farm?”
Because it will make your life easier, I promise!!
I stumbled into yoga couple years ago after completing the Beachbody workout called PiYo. I was amazed at the flexibility I gained!
I’m 38 years old (almost 39) and, I don’t know about you, but I have LOST so much flexibility in the last 10 years!
If you don’t use it, you definitely lose it.
But, why is it important for homesteaders??
Well, think about your day.
How often do you have to bend over or stretch to do something? Taking care of baby chicks– you bend over. Leaning down to pick up a 50 lb feed bag- you bend over. Crawl under or going over an electric fence- you need flexibility. Climbing over a cattle panel while carrying a bucket of feed- you need flexibility and strength. Planting seeds in your garden– you bend or squat. Plus there’s always the regular things you do inside your house- bending down to empty the dishwasher or squatting to wipe up a spill on the floor.
See all the different ways you are flexing your body while going about your daily chores and life?
Now, how many of you are over the age of 20?
Almost everyone here?
I thought so 😉
As you may have noticed, you tend to lose muscle mass and flexibility as the years go by.
Yoga can help with all of that!
I know that, personally, my hamstrings have gotten tighter and tighter as time has gone on. I notice it when I’m hanging out clothes or picking up feed or unloading the dishwasher.
But, after a just a couple weeks of practicing yoga, I can always feel a difference!
I really do NOT want to age in such a way that I have to stop doing things because I physically can’t. I want to be as independent as possible for as long as God lets me.
And to do that, I have to take care of myself.
So, where do you start and how often do you need to do it?
The first thing you need is a yoga mat. You can practice without one, but we don’t have carpet, so I highly recommend one if you don’t have any cushion around!
The other thing you need is a yoga instructor!
There are tons of free YouTube channels out there to get you started. I really enjoy Yoga by Candace.
Other than that, you need comfy clothes that you can stretch in and you’re good to go!
Yoga is actually a cheaper hobby than running, in my opinion!
How often should you do yoga to see benefits?
Personally, I shoot for at least 3 times a week, minimum, but I feel better if I can get it 5 or 6 days of it. Yoga is easy on your body, so you can safely do it every day without injury.
In the beginning, you may feel frustrated when you realize how tight you actually are, especially compared to those yoga instructors!
Stick with it, though, because it will get easier as time goes on, I promise!
You may even have the added benefit of weight loss and added muscle tone! (And who doesn’t want that, right??)
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So, have I convinced you that even busy homesteaders need yoga in their life??
I hope so!
Pick a time of day and try just 15 or 20 minutes of it and then see how much better you feel when you tackle all those farming chores 🙂
What’s your favorite form of exercise on the homestead? Have you ever tried yoga before? Share with us any great yoga programs out there!
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