10 Amazing Benefits Of Yoga For Stressed Dads
Being a dad can be one of the toughest jobs too. Not to mention, there’s the added pressure of being able to provide for your family and having to raise children. Parenthood and family life are the most wonderful things but sometimes, it can get quite stressful.
If you are a stressed dad who’s trying to get by, we’ve got a probable solution for you. There is something you can do to reduce stress and to face your day-to-day routines with a more positive attitude—take yoga classes!
Is yoga for men?
We know what you’re thinking, isn’t yoga meant for females? It is no surprise that the yoga community is dominated by women. Some guys are a bit hesitant to participate in this kind of exercise because of the stigma that surrounds it. Some men believe that they are suitable for more vigorous types of workouts that will test their strength and endurance.
But as time passed by, even the manliest men are already adding it to their lifestyles. Many known figures and athletes engage in yoga practice. Why? It’s because yoga is an all-rounder workout that will both physically and mentally strengthen an individual. It provides so many health benefits and it can be practiced along with other types of physical activities. Plus, yoga is so inclusive that it has so many variations and styles that would cater to different types of people.
Yoga is for men too.
What are the benefits of yoga for dads?
Despite the beliefs of some, yoga is an ideal workout even for men. Yoga may seem like a passive, meditative exercise compared to others but it can do so many wonders for the mind and body. This is perfect for stressed dads who are looking for a new activity that they can enjoy and benefit from.
Listed below are the following benefits that dads would get from yoga practice.
1. Yoga doesn’t require skills.
The great thing about yoga is that it doesn’t have prerequisite skills. You don’t need to be flexible right away nor does it require you to have read an entire book about yoga just so you can join a class.
Yoga is one of the exercises that promotes self-paced progress. This means that you can take your time to learn and improve. There’s no need to feel self-conscious or insecure that others are doing better than you. With constant practice and proper focus, you will eventually get there.
2. Yoga reduces stress.
Being a working parent or a househusband can both be stressful at times. There are so many things needed to be done. Sometimes, you just feel like driving away or perhaps screaming into a pillow. But there’s another way to get rid of stress: yoga.
According to many sources, yoga is a great way to reduce stress levels. It can help lower blood pressure and lessen the heart’s workload. The execution of yoga poses affects the heart and the nervous system. So in the future, if you ever feel like letting off some steam, go grab that yoga mat.
3. Yoga gives you energy.
Imagine going to work and then spending time with your kids at home. Both are fulfilling things but they also require a huge amount of your energy. Whenever we feel drained, we often drink coffee or energy drinks to supply ourselves with the energy we lost. However, relying on those beverages too much can also be bad for your health.
Try practicing yoga to feel energized. Doing the different postures along with deep breathing techniques makes us feel revitalized and it also keeps us mentally sharp. With regular yoga practice, you can sustain more energy for your job and your little ones.
4. Yoga improves flexibility.
In general, men tend to be less flexible than women. This is also one of the reasons why they refuse to engage in an exercise like yoga. Some men often rely on utilizing their strength instead of giving importance to their range of motion.
Joining a yoga class will teach your body to become more flexible. Every pose will help you develop your flexibility skills by extending your joints and loosening your tight muscles. There are a lot of perks to being flexible such as reducing the risk of physical injuries and being able to perform better at many physical activities.
5. Yoga improves strength and endurance.
Being strong isn’t just possible with lifting weights or doing pull-ups. If what you are looking after is building a stronger body, yoga can do that for you. The execution of the poses will help strengthen the various muscle groups in the body. This will also increase your endurance by holding each posture for some time in every session.
Keep in mind, however, that you can’t just rely on yoga alone for this purpose. You can still do the other strengthening exercises like the ones mentioned above but adding yoga to your list will increase the effects.
6. Yoga relieves back pain.
Back pain is a common issue among adults, especially those aged 40 and up. This is an even truer case if your job involves you sitting on a desk all day. Experiencing back pain may hinder you or slow you down from doing certain physical activities.
Yoga is a great way to relieve back pain. It helps lengthen and strengthen the spine and loosen the tight muscles in the body. The best yoga poses for alleviating back pain are the cobra pose, bridge pose, and locust pose.
7. Yoga promotes mindful eating.
Worried about having a “dad bod” forever? If you want to improve your weight, yoga might help. Consistent yoga practice helps develop mindful eating. This means you will be able to control your appetite better and will no longer experience unnecessary cravings as often as before. Yoga is also connected to improving self-discipline.
Losing weight is not as easy as pie. But as long as you exercise regularly and maintain balanced meals, you will be able to burn calories in no time.
8. Yoga reduces the risk of physical injuries.
As previously mentioned, yoga improves flexibility. By being flexible and having loose muscles there’s a higher chance of reducing physical injuries. It’s important to expand your body’s range of motion so that you can perform better in other extreme physical activities.
9. Yoga encourages a positive attitude.
Other than the many benefits yoga gives the body, it’s also essential for our mental health. We may sometimes find ourselves on the verge of giving up or quitting due to exhaustion. This is why it’s important to develop a more positive outlook towards ourselves, other people, and life in general.
Yoga allows us to focus on ourselves and our surroundings. It teaches us to be calm and mindful. This is why lots of people practice yoga in the morning—so they’re mentally and emotionally prepared for whatever challenge that may come their way.
10. Yoga promotes self belongingness.
Being busy with work or family life (or both) may cause us to forget the importance of having friends or connecting with people from outside. Self-belongingness is an essential part of each individual. It always feels amazing to be a part of something special with other like-minded people.
By joining yoga classes, you’ll get to meet new people and make new friends. You might come from different walks of life but yoga will help bring you together. Plus, it’s always more fun to work out when you have buddies by your side.
It’s a wonderful experience to be a dad and a husband. But when things get difficult sometimes, you can always do the things that make you happy and give you strength. Practicing yoga can be life-changing and will help you in ways you never expected. Who knows, maybe being a yogi will help you live a better life with your family and career.