There’s no other way to put it, really, yoga just has this incredible ability to make you feel absolutely amazing. Even as quickly after your first-ever session, you’ll find yourself on that mat completely incredulous at your current mindset.
You’ll feel light as a feather, super awake and alert, and more connected to yourself and the world around you.
The nickname for this feeling is often referred to as a yoga high. And it’s not hard to see why, since you do come away from your session feeling super euphoric.
But, this feeling is a given, we’ve all kind of come to just accept that that’s how you feel after yoga. And there are certainly no complaints about it.
But most of us don’t actually know the reason why we feel this way. Well, in this article, we’re about to find out. So, keep reading to uncover the secrets of why yoga just feels so good.
The Reason Why You Feel Amazing After A Spot Of Yoga
Sure, lots of people actually start practicing yoga for its many physical benefits such as increased strength and flexibility, along with some muscular toning and better definition. But the mental benefits of yoga are also plentiful.
And while the physical benefits might be what got you to the mat, its spiritual awakening, and mental and emotional benefits are what will keep you returning to it.
Yoga has this ability to really help you connect with your internal sense by tapping into your body and breath.
Through the use of breathing techniques, stillness, calmness, and connection, you’ll find yourself becoming increasingly relaxed and you’ll also release all that pent-up energy and expel all those negative emotions that you’ve been harboring.
It allows individuals to turn off their minds and simply focus on the now which helps to get rid of anxiety and stress too. Something that often isn’t possible in today’s society.
What Actually Causes You To Feel Good During Yoga?
Okay, so we know some of the main reasons why we actually feel good during yoga but what about in the more scientific sense? What is actually happening in your body that results in this amazing mood? Let’s find out.
Yoga Lowers Your Levels Of Cortisol
Cortisol is a steroid hormone in your body, and when you have high levels of cortisol, you are much more likely to feel stressed. When you regularly practice yoga, your body lowers the amount of cortisol and so you often feel much happier and less stressed.
Yoga Increases Your Endorphins
Endorphins are another group of hormones that are known for boosting your mood, leaving you in a happier state, and making you feel less stressed. Most forms of exercise promote the secretion of these hormones, including yoga.
Yoga Strengthens Your Physical Body
The many poses and stretches of yoga are known to increase your strength. This in turn can leave you feeling as if you can conquer anything. Extra strength often results in extra confidence that makes you feel amazing.
Yoga Connects You To Your Inner Self
Self-care and time to yourself are so important but our busy and hectic lives often leave little time for you to connect and be with yourself. Practicing yoga allows you to spend more time with yourself, look inward, and become more self-accepting.
And that is also going to leave you feeling pretty great.
Yoga Teaches You To Breathe
You might not be aware of just how effective breathing exercises are. Slowing down your breath allows you to release a lot of tension from your body that you might not have even realized you were storing.
It helps to encourage and promote relaxation which leaves you feeling much better in terms of both your mind and body.
What Type Of Yoga Makes You Feel The Best?
There isn’t really a right or wrong answer to this question. There are many different forms of yoga out there and one thing they all have in common is that they teach you to live in the present moment, be more mindful, and build a greater connection with your mind and body.
However, some types of yoga can differ vastly from others in many ways. Some are much more physical and will leave you sweating while others are much more gentle and relaxed. Some incorporate other activities within them such as aerobic yoga or laughter yoga.
Each type of yoga will be better suited for different individuals. It’s really just a case of personal preference. If you’re new to yoga it might be worth trialing out a few different forms of yoga to see which one makes you feel the best.
Plus, variety is the spice of life, you may feel more interested and stimulated if you opt for a few different types of yoga to keep things interesting. Different styles can also work together to keep you feeling both energized and calm, strong and centered.
Why Does Yoga Make You Feel So Calm?
Another reason that many individuals adore yoga so much is that it brings a real sense of calm and serenity. And this peacefulness promotes that amazing feeling you so often experience.
But how does it make you feel so calm?
Well, it all comes down to the breathing techniques. Breathing slowly and deeply takes you into a much more relaxed state because of the parasympathetic response.
Essentially, what this means is that yoga allows you to relax without setting off that automatic fight or flight response that our bodies are capable of.
Yoga & Mindfulness
Being more mindful can without a doubt improve your mood and overall mental state. And that leaves us feeling pretty great. Yoga is all about mindfulness. The practice is basically centered around it. You’ll learn to react to anything in life with a positive and calm mindset.
So, for example, while practicing a pretty difficult pose during yoga, it can be easy to become frustrated, stressed, or angry.
However, throughout the practice of yoga, you are taught the necessary techniques to use your breath to calm yourself, become more mindful, and deal with the problem at hand in a much more positive way.
These skills then automatically translate into your day-to-day life, often without even noticing it. You’ll find that when you find yourself in a stressful situation, be it at home or work, you can call upon those yoga breathing techniques to center and ground yourself.
You’ll be able to avoid that fight or flight response and better deal with the situation in front of you.
This means, then, that those stressors and triggers of life that have us feeling pretty bad are no longer present. And that means amazing moods all around!
Final Thoughts
There’s no doubt that yoga makes us feel amazing! It’s one of the main reasons it’s so incredibly popular. And after reading this article, you should have more of an idea why it makes us feel this way.
Yoga has many amazing benefits, from reducing stress hormones and producing happy ones to making us mindful and able to deal with the negative aspects of life.
So, if you haven’t already, start practicing yoga today and take your first steps towards a calmer happier life!
I created this website to help newcomers to yoga and enthusiasts alike, and to share our common passions for yoga.
- 8 Yoga Poses to Release Tight Shoulders - October 14, 2023
- 10 Yoga Poses for Kyphosis - October 14, 2023
- What are the Key Principles of Yoga Alignment? - October 14, 2023
