I’ve been practicing yoga for about a year and a half now. I know that I love the feeling I get during my practice, that inner peace. My practice has built up my self-esteem and helped me with stress. So I was curious. What has your practice done for you? What benefits have you taken from it? Or, if you are a beginner, why did you come to try yoga? Thanks.
Hi guest 
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I tried yoga for the first time about 6 years ago and went to classes casually once the ‘craze’ well and truly kicked in. I have just joined a yoga class that concentrates more on the full benefits of yoga, ie the meditative element and the breath/focus, not just the physicality as with many gym yoga classes.
Personally, I find it encouraging that you have found that yoga builds self esteem as it was negative feelings that have caused me to want to pursue yoga more regularly and seriously - I find that there have been benefits already in terms of perspective. Particularly, I have found it helpful to view the mind as not being the source of true wisdom - not something to be controlled and despised when it becomes negative. Before, I identified the mind as the source of identity. Now, I like what my yoga instructor has been saying about the ‘witness’ element, the idea of the self as an observer of the mind, body and sense objects. I am wary of too blindly accepting all of yogas views too quickly (although I think yoga is about forming your own beliefs/truth), having come to it from a position of feeling weak, however, I do find that I feel much less of a need to control the mind and emotions, and calmer as a result.
Hope the positive effects continue - I am encouraged that a commitment to yoga has helped you in this way. I too would love to hear of the experiences other members have had and their reasons for yoga practice.