The Surprising Benefits Of Yoga

Let me be the first one to admit that I’ve started paddle-boarding.

Have you ever tried it? The principle, if you’re unfamiliar, is that you’ve got this giant surfboard—sometimes an inflatable one—and you sit, kneel, or stand on it and use a paddle to get about. I guess it’s in the name, eh?

It’s a pretty relaxing hobby. I’ve seen my first kingfisher, countless frogspawn in the spring on my local canal, deer, loads of birds I’m too urban to identify, and a fair few angry-looking swans.

I’ve also been paddle-boarding with friends and folk I’ve not met before. Some of whom have never done this standing-on-a-board lark.

And you know what those people always say to me?

“You must have amazing core strength, Chloe.”

“How do you balance so easily?!”

“What’s your secret?”

And, of course, my answer is always, “it’s just yoga!” with a smug look on my face whilst they struggle to balance, or shiver because they fell in almost instantly.

Absolutely zero disrespect to those people. I know what it’s like to see that smug wanker doing it perfectly while I struggle on (have I told you how terrible I am at playing the violin?).

But it IS a good feeling to just be able to do this sort of thing.

It doesn’t just stop at paddle-boarding, either.

• I’ve been training with a weighted pack in preparation to walk part of the West Highland Way.
• When I get the opportunity, I surf.
• I walk long distances.

And all of this stuff comes relatively easily to me.

But more everyday stuff:

• Clambering into too-full cars (you have to when your sister has twins).
• Standing up from the floor without using hands.
• Sitting on the floor for extended periods of time.
• Closing and opening doors just using your feet (at home, obviously. Very handy when transporting large amounts of tea and/or food).

What I’m trying to say is that the yoga practice doesn’t just make yoga easy (or those swoon-worthy Instagram photos easier). It literally makes ALL of this stuff easier. It makes life easier. Being a human being easier. I’m living proof.

Whether it’s paddle-boarding, lugging furniture up the stairs, training for a long hike, or squishing into a tiny car in-between two, sticky, wonderful one-year-olds and their car seats, this stuff is normal, easy, and people seem to always ask me how I got so strong / bendy / capable.

Yoga.

And it doesn’t have to be a 15-year commitment, or an hour a day thing. I even recently launched more mini sessions for the celebration of short-and-sweet yoga back in August. So if you “don’t have the time”, don’t feel flexible enough, don’t feel capable enough…

…I’m here to tell you that you do, and you damn well are.

Get ready to be smug, too!

Try this short and sweet bundle: Mini Morning Rituals. Three sessions, all 15-minutes (or thereabouts). And all of them will help you get moving, open, feeling better, and ready to open door-handles with your toes (gross? I’m here for it).

Not a member yet? Try the bundle and everything else inside The Yoga Revolution membership. Or become a member of the inner circle for free classes, exclusive resources, and inspiration to live more joyfully.