INSPO Fitness Journal October 2017

Using yoga to prepare for your
WEDDING DAY
Summer’s coming, and along with it is wedding season.
That means some of you are now preparing for what is
expected to be one of the most memorable and special days
of your life. Naturally that’s really exciting, but it can
also bring a fair amount of extra stress. This month I’m
sharing three key ways that yoga can help you prepare; both
mentally and physically, for your wedding day.
YOGA FOR ATHLETES BY SARAH MACDONALD
Of course, you don’t have to be getting
married to find a reason to give yoga
a try. These benefits apply to anyone
who’s looking to cope with the expectations,
pressures and dramas that go hand-in-hand
with any big event, or just everyday life.
1. A physical practice to get you into shape
and feeling great.
Whether you are looking to tone up, trim
down, or have more energy and less tension,
the physical practice of yoga has so much to
offer. Yoga classes vary from strong, sweaty,
flowing classes that help you build strength
and fitness while toning and detoxing the
body, to more gentle and relaxing forms to
help you destress and release tension.
Yoga is an excellent low impact form of
exercise, ideal for all bodies and fitness levels.
It works your entire body and has a dual
effect of promoting relaxation, helping with
issues such as stress or sleep problems, while
also naturally boosting energy levels by activating
energy channels throughout the body.
It’s an ideal practice to develop better
movement, poise, radiance and confidence
in your body (and what bride doesn’t want to
shine with all these qualities?).
2. Learn to breathe better
Yoga is a breath-centred practice and can
teach you breathing habits that support
relaxation and wellbeing.
The way we breathe reflects our state of
being and has a direct impact on our nervous
system, and therefore our ability to relax; as
well as influencing many other processes in
the body that support health and wellbeing.
Full diaphragmatic breathing is becoming
a lost art, but is one of the most simple
and effective ways to de-stress and promote
relaxation. Some yoga breathing techniques
could really support you on your wedding
day, especially if you have a tendency towards
anxiety or panic attacks.
3. Establish a meditation practice to become
more mindful
With so much riding on creating the ‘perfect’
20 INSPO – FITNESS JOURNAL OCTOBER 2017