by Expert Kristin McGee

The many benefits of yoga include flexibility, a strong core, less back pain, more resilience towards stress, inner strength and awakening to one’s own natural state of joy. If that’s not enough, studies have shown yoga to improve menopause symptoms, lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, help with insomnia and aid in depression. Yoga helps build a sense of community and purpose in one’s life and yoga is a wonderful tool for concentration, focus and relaxation. It seems impossible that this one technique can really do such magnificent things; but I am living proof that yoga really can change your life.

When I first discovered yoga at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, I immediately felt a subtle shift in my energy after my very first class. I remember holding a warrior pose and truly feeling my strong legs and hearing my breath and I suddenly felt grounded and capable. I’ve always dealt with anxiety and insecurities (who doesn’t?) and I developed an eating disorder in high school to help me control my fear. Slowly and over the years of a dedicated yoga practice, I’ve truly transformed. Yoga helped me realized my true nature of being still and confident and happy from the inside out. I’ve learned and am still learning to cope with my stress in a very healthy and positive way each and every day. Yoga gave me a road map to constantly go back to and the tools to check in with myself so I can continue to grow and be healthy, happy and free.

Yoga forces us to slow down and to pay attention to our bodies and breath. The second we stop and really listen to our breathing, we  feel our bodies. We realize how strong we are  holding certain positions. We find a sense of balance physically and mentally when we stand on one leg or perch ourselves up on our hands. We open up to places we’ve closed off and start to breath new life and energy in to our joints and ligaments. Yoga teaches us to work from a strong center which empowers us mentally, while protecting our back and spine aiding in great posture and beautiful bellies.

I want to help you discover the many benefits of yoga if you are new to the practice. I also want to hear from you if you’ve been doing yoga so you can share with us what you’ve gained. If you have specific problems or issues you’d like me to address or any concerns or questions on anything and everything involving yoga, breathing, meditation, Pilates, I will be here for you to help answer those questions as we continue to navigate our journeys together. We are all connected in the honeycomb of life and each one of us is a beautiful and most likely busy bee with our own unique energy and stripes. I am honored to be a part of the Honeyline and to build a community of friends and to be your Queen Yogini Bee whenever you need me. Hopefully, I can help you find the time to nurture yourself and find the sweetness inside of you so you can share it with the rest of the world.

Namaste,

Kristin
www.kristinmcgee.com