Why yoga is the best thing you can do for your body.

With yoga, its a love-hate relationship.

Sometimes I could not be more excited to get my sweat on, and other times my lazy position on the couch watching tv with a spoon in a pint of ice cream seems like SUCH a better plan. Until of course I remember that I am shelling out $16 a class, in which case I (usually) overcome my desire to glue myself to a blanket, change into some Lulu and get on my game face.

Some classes are great - I'm focused and the poses come easily. Others, like tonight, everything seems impossible and I wish that I had the ability to teleport myself out of the humid, sticky room and into a freezer. Or glacial valley. Or the Arctic.

But the best part, whether or not my body is feeling it, is that I always finish. I always end up in final shivasina listening to all of my muscles relax and thank me for giving them a workout. There are many reasons that I believe yoga is the greatest single thing you can do for your health. It's low-impact, you can do the poses anywhere, if you're doing hot yoga you sweat out all the nastiness, etc. etc. etc. But there is one thing that sells me on yoga more than anything else: it's the best way to check in with your body and see if you are being kind to it.

During yoga, your body really lets you know how it is feeling. If you spent the whole weekend drinking cocktails by the pool and eating chili fries, you are going to feel sick. If you chug a milkshake three hours prior to class, you feel sluggish. If you don't sleep enough, you feel exhausted (more than usual!) But, if you have been drinking enough water, eat well and get enough rest, your body is going to feel awesome. Anytime I go into a class well-prepared, I come away feeling like I have really been treating myself right. And that is a great, great feeling.

Not only is yoga great for your muscles, your immune system and your health in general, it also encourages a healthy lifestyle. It makes you choose apples over cookies and water over soda and 8 hours of sleep over that television show you always watch at 11 PM. Yes, it is expensive - but just change the way you look at that price. Instead of looking at it as a debit to your bank account, see it as an investment in your future. In your health. In your life.

Because, even though we are all young (or young at heart), this life is precious. It won't last forever. And you have to make an investment in yourself now if you want to live happily and healthfully until you're old, gray and fabulous.

♥mb.