The Diverse Impact of Yoga

      On your life on and off the mat

A person that took my Ashtanga workshop asked me, “I’ve seen in some ways how yoga brings change to one’s life, but I’ve never really fully heard and understood its full impact…. My experience with it has been mostly physical and I’m wondering if you would be willing to share the impact of yoga on your life.”

The impact of yoga is diverse. It is true that the first thing most people notice is the physical aspect of yoga. They notice they are more flexible and stronger while having better stamina. Still on the physical level, but not as noticed, is the cleansing aspect of yoga. All the twisting, curling and stretching help agitate tissue to get extra fat from the inner organs. This allows us to be leaner within.

Breath

The breath is the bridge between the body and the mind. Deepening the breath – especially the exhales –  and letting it flow smoothly allows us to feel calmer and  improve our energy levels. It allows us to take in more oxygen and it gives us an anchoring point to concentrate on, which helps us focus our minds. It has helped me stay alive after severe asthma issues, and keeps my lungs working great as years go by.

The practice of breathing in yoga is like a meditation in movement. Even though I am breathing everywhere, all the time, the practice of staying aware of the breath, changes the perception of being alive. Wherever I am, my breath is always available for me to retreat to. 

Drsti – Steady, and Focused Gaze

The drsti, which can be described as the yogic gaze, is a critical aspect of yoga practice that connects the body, eyes and mind. We hold a dristi when we soften the eyes and look towards a single point. This single-pointed concentration helps us stay focused while we are in different yoga poses. 

Balancing poses help us balance our body and mind. In order to practice stability on one leg, one needs to find a stable mind. Arm balances and inversions require a strong core and strong arms, as well as the use of the drsti, to stay steady.  This leads to building a sense of trust and courage.

These poses can lead to a sense of empowerment, of “I can do this” or better yet, “I am doing this!” Maintaining focus while in conversation, walking or doing a task is greatly improved thanks to the yoga practice.

Yoga as an Anchor

A major impact of yoga for me has been an anchor. It rescued me from the craziness of life. I was living in New York City, running a photography studio as an artist and fashion photographer. This lifestyle came with a lot of craziness. Amidst all the craziness yoga was my refuge. I knew I was going to practice every morning.  The yoga studio was a safe place where I would receive support. It was a place where I didn’t need to worry about anything. Even as a yoga teacher in California, the practice and the routine held me together. I slept earlier to make it to practice. I ate better to maintain the ability to practice well.

My lifestyle is all in support of yoga, and yoga supports my lifestyle.

Going Beyond the Physical

The physical practice has shown its effects on my health. Many books are written on what yoga poses can do, but I didn’t start practicing for any specific reason. It just happened. After a few classes, I was feeling so good that I just kept going. The deeper one goes into the physical yoga, the more obvious it is they should go deeper in other aspects. The next step is the philosophy – understanding the eight limbs of yoga. 

With guidance from the Yamas and Niyamas, you will begin to put more emphasis on what you do and why. Work will no longer serve pleasure or money, but you will seek to benefit others through your work and actions.

How Yoga Can Improve Your Life Off the Mat

While practicing yoga you may start forming a community, having friends from the yoga world, with similar values and interest. This happened to me, and instead of going out for drinks, I started going to Kirtan (chanting) evenings and practicing breath work. Your eating habits will most likely change for the better as well as your sleep patterns. You will enjoy better sleep in general.

You may find yourself going on retreats and traveling for yoga and meditation. Thoughts become clearer, mind sharper and calmer, while the body stronger and more flexible. In general you may feel more joyful more of the time. For many it is so powerful that, eventually, like me, we took it as a mission to pass the word around. 

I wake up every morning with a sense of meaning in my life. As I practice I feel gratitude and when I teach I feel at service. I pray this will happen for you as well.

Yoga is what keeps me out of trouble, what grounds me and what lifts me. It has shown me great friends and has encouraged me to make crucial changes in my life. I am grateful for the impact of yoga and its tradition, for all the teachers that inspired me to keep practicing, and the fellow yogis on the mats around sharing their energies and sweat. I could not have done this without them.

Tips for Taking Yoga Off the Mat 

 As you learn to relax your mind and body in class you’ll learn to transfer your insights and the impact of yoga into life outside of class.  Here are 5 ways to take yoga off the mat:

• • Work on your ability to relax whenever you intend to, wherever you are. Maybe for a brief moment at your desk, or on your commute to work. Whenever you find yourself in a stressful situation command yourself to calm down. Use your breath to still the mind and body.
  • Share yoga with your friends. Get them to come to classes, teach them, and share books with them. As you become the teacher your insights will amplify.
  • Infuse the Yamas and Niyamas into all aspects of your life. What you eat, how you behave, and how you treat the spaces around you.
  • Be happy and content, setting an example for those around you to be humble so that life can be enjoyed and appreciated as is. This is the practice of santosha. 
  • Bring rituals and routines into your life. Don’t just save the Om’s and focusing your gaze for class.  concentrate your gaze when entering a room for the first time. Be present and really notice.  Om with your friends and family before meals. Bow in gratitude or practice object meditation whenever you see something beautiful, like the view of Lake Atitlan at our retreat center in Guatemala.

Share the Support

Did you find this post helpful? Leave us a comment and let us know how yoga has changed your life. Share this post with some friends who have their own yoga practice and start a discussion!

Come and visit us for a retreat or teacher training at Doron Yoga & Zen Center in Guatemala.

For more information on how to bring yogic techniques and teachings into your everyday life, check out the Doron Yoga Manual. Everything you need to know about yoga in one place!

Blissful Living,

Doron