Yoga Helped Me Quit Smoking!
When asked what are one of the many benefits of yoga, some yogi's and many yoga instructors will tell you that you will learn to respect your body on a "whole new level!". I didn't quite understand what this meant until the past several months.
9 months ago, I quit smoking....I only smoked cigarettes at work so in my mind I was "alright" as I wasn't really a hard core smoker, "I only smoke at work" I told myself! The more I practiced yoga, and the more I focused on moving my breath with the asana's, I began to fully and deeply realize how much damage I was doing to my lungs with smoking cigarettes. I was out of breath during yoga, and I could tell that I wasn't oxygenating my blood the way I could be if my lungs were tar and smoke free. I also told myself "how silly of you to be practicing yoga 6-8 hours a week, yet you smoke!". I felt like a hypocrite. So on September 22, 2012 I told my husband "that's it I'm done, no more smoking so don't buy me anymore cigarettes".
Another benefit of yoga, was that anytime I felt an urge to smoke, I got up and did a few asana's instead...such as holding down dog as long as I could, or holding the plank for as long as I could. So not only did yoga make me realize that abusing my body was not healthy or sensible, yoga also helped me to quit a very bad, and nasty habit.
After a few months of quitting smoking, I was happily cleaning my bathroom one morning and as I was opening the window to let the fumes of the cleaner out into the air, I realized that I was further damaging my lungs and my body by inhaling toxic cleaner fumes. I decided from then on to make my own cleaners. One cleaner I enjoy making is taking orange peels, and putting them in a jar....I then pour white vinegar over the orange peels, let it sit for several weeks, strain, fill half a spray bottle with water and the rest with the home made cleaner, and there you have it...your own toxic free cleaner! I find that my lungs are not burning while I'm cleaning, and I know I'm doing something good for my body as I'm not absorbing whatever toxic chemicals are in commercial cleaners.
My point is that yoga has taught me a deep respect for my body and for the health of my body. Without my body, I would not be able to perform all the wonderful asana's yoga has to offer for me. Yoga has connected me deeply to the needs of my body. It has connected me deeply to the health of my body. After practicing yoga for a while, you will learn a new found and deep respect for your body. Your body houses your spirit and you want your body as healthy as possible so that your spirit can express itself in it's purity and love. Yoga leads you to good health so keep on practicing!
Namaste
Namaste
