What do you think about when you think of yoga? Sitting cross-legged on the floor? Taking deep breaths? Perhaps you think about certain religious traditions.
Regardless of what comes to mind when you think about yoga, there is no denying the benefits of this well-known exercise.
Meet the Owner
Meet Amanda Morris, owner of Balanced Body Yoga, Health and Wellness. Amanda’s business consists of practicing yoga, as well as marriage and family counseling. She attended the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) before transferring to the University of Southern Mississippi. “I enjoyed the classes offered in the university fitness centers but I really felt a stronger connection with yoga when I started taking classes at a yoga studio. Within a few classes at the studio, I knew I wanted to become an instructor. It all just clicked for me” (Morris). Her interest shifted from wanting to be a trained aerobics/fitness instructor to realizing that yoga was a much better fit for her. This realization excited Amanda and catapulted her into learning more.
For Amanda, yoga started as a physical practice from which she learned from and enjoyed experiencing her individuality, even within a group setting. As she continued partaking in yoga, Amanda gained more insight on the mind, attention, consciousness, awareness, and spiritual development. Learning more about these subject matters continued expanding her interests which eventually led to Amanda starting her own yoga practice. After establishing her yoga practice, she later became a marriage and family therapist. Amanda knew this new business venture would be a great way to incorporate yoga into her work.
Yoga. Physical, Mental, or Both?
Yoga is said to be helpful to both the mind and body. Amanda agrees this is 100% accurate. “It could be one or the other depending on the individual and the intention they have” (Morris). While some people do yoga for physical health (weight loss, muscle health, flexibility, etc.), there are people who strictly do it for mental wellness, due to being overwhelmed or needing a physical outlet. Amanda states that yoga helps others to deal with trauma, recovery, stress management, anxiety, and depression. All of these factors, in addition to the physical factors, are great reasons to practice yoga. “I think that anything that gives people a deeper connection and appreciation of themselves, is going to help with mental aspects” (Morris).
Benefits of Yoga
As you could imagine, yoga has many advantages. I asked Amanda to explain what she believes the benefits of yoga are. She stated the following:
- Physical movement that is low impact, safe, and easy to modify for anyone who has limitations.
- Mental/emotional awareness that develops as you grow. In a mindful practice like yoga, you gain a deeper insight into your inner self.
- Techniques for calm/stress management such as meditation, guided relaxation, and deep breathing practices.
As you can see, yoga is a fantastic way to improve one’s holistic health. By activating the mind, body, and spirit, you can create an environment for yourself that is more peaceful.
Where Should You Start?
If you’re interested in learning more about yoga and participating in it, you are not alone. Many people are interested in yoga but may feel intimidated. We all have to start somewhere. Amanda advises practicing yoga at least once a week to reap the physical benefits of the activity; however, she states that doing shorter daily sessions are also beneficial if attending a yoga class isn’t possible. “For example, a few poses and light stretching on a yoga mat, add in some deep breathing exercises and mindfulness as a 10-20 minute daily routine would be amazing” (Morris).
Final Stretch
While the intricacies of yoga can be intimidating, you can start slowly and work your way into becoming more comfortable practicing yoga. Amanda has taught us that yoga is beneficial in many ways and that you can do it as little as once a week to start to feel the physical benefits of it. Here’s a quick note right from Amanda’s yoga mat:
“I’m Amanda Morris, LMFT, E-RYT 200 and founder of Balanced Body Yoga, Health & Wellness. I am a holistic wellness service provider offering yoga, stress management coaching and mindfulness education. I’m also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist which provides a unique mental health lens to my work.
My private studio is located in Petal, MS where I offer small group and private yoga classes, host workshops and events, and facilitate virtual coaching sessions! If you need help with stress management, I’d love to help.”
*Photos are courtesy of Amanda Morris.
