Chill Out: 9 Great Reasons to Start Yoga in the Winter Months

Yoga is an ancient practice blending physical postures, breathing practices and meditation. Today, yoga classes vary widely in style—allowing people of all ages and abilities to participate. For anyone looking to beat the winter blues or just add some calm to their busy holiday schedules, yoga may be the perfect addition. Discover nine ways yoga can improve your physical and emotional well-being this winter. 

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1. Reduce your risk for injury. Each yoga pose targets specific muscles. This helps you increase your flexibility and reduce your risk for injury.
2. Reduce stress. Yoga can help soothe the mind and lower stress levels. It does this by focusing the mind on the moment and the movements.
3. Increase your concentration. A main part of yoga is rhythmic, focused breathing. This can help you focus.
4. Understand the mind and body connection. Yoga requires you to focus all your energy on each movement or pose exactly. This can help you feel the mind and body work together.
5. Gain strength and stamina. More vigorous styles of yoga promote strength and stamina.
6. Improve balance and stability. Balancing poses require you to use your core muscles. This can help you improve your overall stability.
7. Improve posture. Yoga poses strengthen and open tight areas of the body like the shoulders and muscles of the upper back. This can help you keep good posture.
8. Develop body awareness. Yoga requires you to contract or relax specific muscles as you stretch into each pose. This can help you become more aware of your body’s strengths and weaknesses.
9. Get active again. Yoga's gentle movements are a big reason for why it’s so popular. Yoga is great for those who haven't been active in a while and exercises can be modified to meet your needs. It’s also good for people who have certain health conditions, including high blood pressure, arthritis and osteoporosis.

How to get Started

Taking a class with a qualified instructor is the best way to learn safe, correct form. Be sure to let the teacher know about any health concerns. Overlake offers many yoga class options including: Yoga for Pregnancy, Yoga & Strength: For After Birth & Beyond, Seated Yoga for Balance, and Exercise & Cancer: Gentle Yoga in partnership with CancerLifeline.