What Is All the Hype about Yoga? Is it really that good for you?

Just over 12 years ago, my husband talked me into going to a yoga class. Previous to that, I had only been to one yoga session. I had signed up for a Bikram 90-minute hot yoga class, which was very trendy at the time. I did not enjoy it at all. The heat and strict teaching style turned me off yoga for many years!  

I have always been an active woman, but I preferred a more vigorous form of exercise. Of course, with that type of thinking, injuries, muscle aches and pains have appeared as the years progressed! My “Type A” personality struggled to figure this out early on. I was told that yoga sessions would provide beneficial stretching that I seldom included in my fitness routine. It would help me combat my ongoing back and knee issues.

So what did I notice early on when I implemented yoga into my life?

My first visit was to a power class which had a comfortable room temperature of 30 Celsius. The class went smoothly, and I was happy with my ability to achieve most of the poses. The great thing is, you can wear what you want and everything is acceptable.

There are body types of all shapes and sizes attending the classes. It is pretty remarkable to see the different flexibility of everyone at every age. There are many varieties of yoga which include, Hatha, Yin, Power, Hot and others. There is something for everyone which takes the intimidation factor out of being a beginner.

Looking around the room had me wondering if this would be a good environment for my clients to meet a potential date. The female percentage of participants is higher, but it does depend on which class you attend.  (I have noticed that a good number of men attend the power and hot classes.)

Many studios have a seated lounge area. This is where everyone can enjoy a cup of tea or a relaxing rest before or after a class. This allows some mingling time to get to know some of the other yoga enthusiasts. Most people have a yoga routine and take certain classes regularly, so there is a good chance you will see the same people often. This leads to hellos and smiles as you see these familiar faces. Okay, enough of the matchmaking conversation.

Back to my first yoga class…

I made it through the entire hour without falling over or passing out. I couldn’t believe I was even allowed to have a little nap at the end, called “Shavasana.” Now we’re talking! After my first class, I agreed to give yoga a little more time and purchased a 2-week pass. This enabled us to go to as many classes as we wanted in that time frame. We did manage to get there 7 days out of 14.

I swear the only thing that got me to the classes at first, was the infrared sauna. I enjoyed this very much after each hour of yoga was over. It was a reward that kept me coming back. I had read that you can lose 300 calories in about 30 minutes in this therapeutic sauna. It was certainly preferable to balancing on one leg or planking my way through core-building exercises! This sounded like a much more civilized way of losing weight to me.

Photo by Kampus Production

Complaining aside, we decided to buy another 3-month pass and continued with this new exercise routine. My husband who is just a tad of an “outdoors man” found this serene atmosphere right up his mountain. The jury was still out in my case, but I decided to go along with it. I wanted to see if 90 days would bring any improvements. Especially in the aftermath of my past knee surgeries and the body ailments that were linked to them! (I was not blessed with healthy knees from an early age.)

Within 2 months, I did notice my lower back was not aching as much. My past 20 years as a flight attendant took a toll on my health. I was constantly lifting passenger bags, pushing heavy carts  & reaching over 3 seats to take passenger trays from the window seat. (I guess that situation has been rectified, as many airlines aren’t serving meals these days!)

I started to have more flexibility and my body was becoming more toned overall. It also made me forget about my other troubles for an hour. There is so much concentration that goes into some of the challenging poses. You don’t really have time to think about much else. It is a very peaceful atmosphere, even in the early stages of perfecting those poses.

OK, so what are the benefits and why is yoga so popular?

1. Yoga tones up the entire body all at once. It hits every muscle group within the hour class.
2. It also gets your internal engine running. The poses help with digestion, constipation issues & metabolism. It is like a plugged drain has been released. Everything just functions better. (My husband likens it to being stretched out after being kinked like a garden hose for years!)
3. Yoga also acts as a silent therapist, helping to clear the mind of clutter & negativity. It brightens your mood and confidence.
4. It helps you gain flexibility, which is very important as we age. 
5. Your skin becomes clearer and smoother due to the release of toxins from the poses. (especially in the hot classes!)

A photo of me doing outdoor yoga in Vancouver, BC. Canada

Where am I today, 12 years later, after my first yoga experience?

I had a knee replacement in November 2023 and was very concerned it might slow down my activity permanently. I persevered quickly after my surgery to get back some flexible movement at my surgeon’s request. He was adamant that I did all the prescribed exercises every day. I made great strides in my recovery and was back at yoga 2 months later. Previous to that, I was using a recumbent bike and elliptical to obtain the desired range of motion in my knee.

I now go to hot yoga 3 times per week. (I found the power classes too hard on my shoulders.) I am 14 days into a 30-day yoga challenge for April. I still include my spin bike routine & weight training at a local gym. The combination of the two is a perfect, well-rounded fitness regimen for me. I am happier and have very few mood swings as my mental well-being is healthier too.  I have met some great people & have a wonderful group of women that I socialize with.

As a dating coach, I wouldn’t say a yoga studio was the first place you would go to meet a potential partner. However, yoga will do wonders for your body and mindset. It will definitely help you feel great about who you are and build your confidence. Yoga helps improve any deflated self-image! When you feel good, you look good, which naturally attracts people towards you.

12 years later, I am still there, and I almost like yoga now. 😉 Oh, and I go way more often than my husband, who hasn’t been back for over 2 years! He chooses to be outdoors with his cycling group.

Yoga can be expensive, but there are many free videos to choose from on YouTube. The other great thing is you can do it anywhere when you travel. I make a point of going to a yoga studio in whatever city I am visiting. I have learned to appreciate this lifestyle very much and highly recommend including yoga in your life. You will be extremely happy with the outcome, I can promise you that.

Thank you, Sybersue xo ❤

Private Dating Relationship Coaching With Sybersue – Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me @ [email protected] and message me there to set up a video or audio appointment within 24 hours. Thank you!

Susan McCord @ Dear Sybersue YouTube – Dear Sybersue Facebook

Dear Sybersue Blogs & Advice Column –  Dear Sybersue Instagram

Related