Is Yoga a Hobby?

If you’re asking yourself “is yoga a hobby?” you might not have a clear understanding of what yoga is or you’ve used yoga solely as a way to stay in shape. Yoga is the one hobby that I really – and I mean really – joined the bandwagon on. There is nothing that makes me happier than doing aerial yoga for some mental peace and quiet. So, if that didn’t answer your question, yes, yoga is a hobby.

The cool thing about yoga is that there are so many different types that you can do and people are constantly coming up with NEW ways to practice and do yoga daily. For example, while my favorite type of yoga is aerial yoga, the same place I go also offers goat yoga, wall yoga, and much more. Aerial yoga is just one of the many classes they host on the regular. And, if you can’t go somewhere to do yoga, you can do it at home!

When choosing the type of yoga you want to try, really consider what you think about yourself and what you tend to enjoy. I‘m not a huge fan of slow-paced things and I like to be a bit adventurous, hence the aerial yoga. But, let’s say you’re a animal lover, so you may want to try goat yoga instead!

Let’s dive into how yoga is a hobby and how you can get started with yoga as a mom!

What is Yoga?

If we’re going to get technical, yoga is a “group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines” that originated in ancient India and aims to control and still the mind. It’s a practice that connects the body, breath, and mind using physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation.

Yoga is a great physical activity to use to stay in shape and improve your overall health and wellness. Unlike running and other similar activities, it does not require a lot of forward or traveling movement. For this reason, it’s become a popular hobby for stay-at-home moms.

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What Are The Benefits of Yoga?

Yoga is one of those hobbies that offer a ton of physical and mental health benefits, and as someone who has actively practiced yoga, I promise it has a tendency to help. Some of the physical health benefits of yoga are:

Increased muscle strength and tone
Protection from injuries
Improvement of cardio and circulatory health
Maintaining a balanced metabolism
Weight loss
Increased flexibilility
Improved respiration, energy, and vitality

That’s all according to the American Osteopathic Association too, and I figure they know what they’re talking about. As for mental health, yoga as a low-impact exercise has been shown to lower your stress hormones while increasing brain chemicals like endorphins and GABA – the feel-good chemicals that help reduce your anxiety and improve your mood.

According to Dr. Nevins, when you practice yoga regularly, you can create mental clarity and calmness; increase your body’s awareness, relieve chronic stress patterns, relaxes the mind, centers attention, and sharpens your attention.

Of course, there are specific types of yoga and poses that are supposed to be best for certain types of relief and benefits. The type of yoga you choose to try should also depend on your personal health requirements and personal preferences.

What Types of Yoga Are There?

As I mentioned before, there are quite a few different types of yoga to try. Some types of yoga are meant for recovery, some are meant for a good workout, some are designed for relaxation, and others are even made for a little adventure. Overall, I like to think there’s a type of yoga for everybody!

While most types of yoga are offered at local studios, small studios are not always able to offer specific types due to space restrictions or a equipment requirements. Yoga instructors must also learn how to teach each type and take a course on their own – they can’t just decide to teach it one day.

Anyways, there are around 22 common types of yoga you can try:

Astanga Vinyasa Yoga
Yin Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Hot Yoga
Viniyoga
Bhakti Yoga
Integral Yoga
B. K. S. Yoga
Iyengar Yoga
Restorative Yoga
Aerial Yoga
Jivamukti Yoga
Sivananda Yoga
Yoga Nidra
Prenatal Yoga
Vinyasa Yoga
Bikram Yoga
Hatha Yoga
Pranayama
Acroyaga
Yogasana
Svaroopa Yoga

Of course, not all yogas are made equally. You will want to do a little research, watch some Youtube videos, and see what your local studios offer before picking what type of yoga you would like to try as a hobby.

Is Yoga a Hobby? Your Final Answer…

Yep. Yoga is definitely a hobby. Many people around the world use yoga as a method to relax and find joy – which is what a hobby is all about. Personally, yoga has been one of the most interesting and relaxing hobbies I’ve tried, even though I tried aerial yoga.

But, just because yoga is a hobby doesn’t mean it has to be YOUR hobby. Hobbies are up to the individual and what brings someone else joy may not bring you joy. For example, yoga may not be for you if you don’t want to do something “active” in your free time.

Are you interested in trying yoga as a hobby? What type of yoga do you think would interest you the most? Let us know in the comments below!

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