The Benefits of Mindfulness Yoga

Whether you want to bring greater awareness into your practice with a focus on breathwork or work on your observation skills to feel more present as you flow through poses, incorporating mindful meditation techniques into your yoga practice is good for the mind, body, and spirit.

In addition to improving flexibility, strength, and posture, research* shows that incorporating meditation into your yoga routine can help restructure the brain in a way that leads to better focus, compassion, and a calmer sense of self. The longer you use these mindfulness techniques in your practice, the more you will be able to cultivate greater mind-body awareness and bring meaning to your routine.

The beauty of incorporating mindful techniques into your existing yoga routine is that the habits you develop are often transferable and can be used in a whole host of yoga styles. Popular amongHutha yogaEspecially once you learn the basic ways to add more mindfulness to your yoga routine, you can apply them to any class you want to explore.

Read on as we walk you through the basics of applying mindfulness in your practice and share a number of our favorite poses to help you create your own relaxation routine. But first, we'll answer some of our frequently asked questions about the benefits of more mindful practice below.

Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach to answering this question, as there are a number of different yoga practices that vary in style and purpose, the short answer to this question is: Yes - most yoga practices involve some form of mindfulness in one way or another.

Some specific practices, such as Kundalini Yoga, rely heavily on meditation techniques, as Kundalini is a physical form of meditation that combines movements with breathing and mantras. While more traditional yoga practices such as Hatha Yoga offer a more subtle focus on mindfulness, to the point that yogis may not realize that they are incorporating mindfulness techniques into their practice.

In short, mindfulness is a simple way to train yourself to simply focus on what is happening in the present moment. For example, in Hatha Yoga, the yogi is supposed to concentrate or become aware of his movements and breathing while holding certain yoga poses. As a result, these actions are performed with increased focus and confidence, turning your standard yoga move into a form of meditation.

Regardless of your preferred practice, be it Hatha, Kundalini, Yin Yoga or Iyengar, each of these practices relies on you being present in the moment. Whether it's counting breaths, holding a pose for a set amount of time, or focusing on how you move from one pose to another, this heightened alertness and feeling of concentration is itself a key form of mindfulness.

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What are the main benefits of mindfulness yoga?

1. Greater self-confidence

Adopting mindful habits through your yoga practice ultimately leads to improved self-awareness. For example, next time you practice yoga, try connecting with your body through different phases of your flow.

Take a moment to get in touch with your body at different stages of your practice so yogis can register where they feel a sensation. Whether it's a tug or pull when you lean too hard into a pose or a slight burn when you hold a particular pose, this process of checking in with your body and aligning your mind and movements allows yogis to adjust based on how the body feels. Although it seems like a simple exercise, this process allows you to balance both your body and your mind while gradually increasing your self-confidence.

2. Deepens a personal relationship with yoga

Another benefit of incorporating mindful techniques into your routine is that they can add deeper meaning to your yoga practice.

For many, yoga is often a form of exercise that can help improve strength, flexibility and mobility. However, as you begin to balance both your mind and body through your yoga practice, the positive mental benefits can add greater meaning to your yoga routine.

It is these mindful moments that serve as a bridge between yoga practice and meditation practice, allowing you to benefit from the best elements of both. Whether this develops into several yoga routines; a regular vinyasa flow or restorative nighttime practice designed to help you relax, every time you engage in a routine movement, you deepen your personal connection with yoga.

3. Improves life on and off the mat

Both yoga and mindfulness aim to calm the mind, which is a core skill that can be carried over into your everyday life.

Once you have mastered the ability to tune into your thoughts and approach things mindfully, you can apply these basic techniques to your everyday life. Whether it's taking a moment to check in with how you're feeling at work, or taking a moment to focus on breathwork when you're feeling restless or agitated, the more we pay attention to our physical sensations, the easier it is to bring mindfulness into your life on and off the mat.

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Ways to bring more mindfulness to the mat

1. Savasana

Savasana pose is often incorporated at the beginning or end of an exercise. Since this pose requires yogis to lie on their backs with their feet apart and their arms at their sides, it is a great pose to relax and unwind. Whether it's taking a few mindful breaths in Savasana before your practice or resting after your practice in this pose to focus on your breathing, Savasana allows you to release all of your weight and release any tension you're holding on to.

2. Incorporate yoga props into your routine

There are many yoga props and accessories available at Yogamatters that can help bring a greater sense of relaxation to your practice and create the perfect environment to practice a more mindful approach to yoga. Here at Yogamatters we particularly love our collection of organic cotton blankets. Crafted in simple and sophisticated hues to convey a sense of calm, our range of organic blankets blend seamlessly into existing interiors and are also suitable as props for all types of yoga.

If you're looking for more inspiration on how to use a yoga mat, check out ourUnderstanding Props: How to Use a Yoga BlanketSeries will help show you the best ways to incorporate a blanket into your practice.

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Better yet, each of our yoga blankets is made from pure, 100% organically grown cotton, and when you choose one of our Yogamatters blankets, you can make a more conscious investment. Because the promise of purchasing pure organic cotton is an environmentally conscious alternative to conventional blankets.

Our(link removed)Also work on conforming to the contours of your body, which promotes complete release and relaxation in your yoga routine, freeing the mind and allowing you to be more in tune with your body.

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The practice of mindful yogaby Hannah Moss is a great addition to any yogi's bookshelf. This book explores the fundamentals of yoga and how simple breathwork can become a bridge between yoga and mindfulness. It is a self-discovery journey that highlights the benefits of mindfulness yoga.

(link removed)by Sandra Sabatini also explores the ideas of how a greater focus on breathwork can help you reconnect with your body. Inducing feelings of renewed energy, greater calm, and clarity of mind, this book is perfect for yogis of all levels and offers inspiring suggestions that will help you develop a natural appreciation for mindful yoga.

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4. Build your own sacred space

Life is full of distractions and to truly benefit from a mindful yoga routine, we would suggest creating a calming environment to help you relax. Whether you create a small space in your living room, bedroom, or even in the garden, creating a place where you can fully surrender to your practice will allow you to feel more connected to your flow.

Below is a list of recommendations that you can use as a source of inspiration for building your own sacred space:

Create an atmosphere of calm and relaxation with our collection of hand-poured vegan soy wax candles at Yogamatters. Scented with natural ingredients, whether you choose a calming lavender or an uplifting orange blossom, each of our pure essential oils are expertly blended to relieve stress and anxiety.

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Our range of eye pillows and sandbags are designed to help you delve deeper into your mindful yoga practice. It is designed to stimulate the senses. Enriched with natural lavender oils for relaxation, the gentle weight of flax seeds in our eye pillows helps soften and relax the muscles around the eyes, while the lavender scent supports sleep and deep rest.

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Mindful gifts & accessories at Yogamatters

Whether you want to deepen your personal connection to your practice or gift a fellow yogi who you think would benefit from more mindful moments, our curated collection of(link removed)has something for everyone. From supportive pillows that bring comfort to invigorating candles with natural oils that help you relax and unwind, shop our full range of mindful gifts online.