Why Yoga Is A Must-Do Exercise For Busy Executives

The Internet of Things, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Big Data… We are constantly being bombarded by new information and concepts that we have to deal with in less time than we had previously.

The amount of information which is available is massive. According to Bernard Marr, who wrote the article on the Forbes website entitled How Much Data Do We Create Every Day? The Mind-Blowing Stats Everyone Should Read, 2.5 quintillion bytes of data were being produced every day in 2018. As the rate at which technology is accelerating by leaps and bounds every single day, this number is sure to have increased exponentially.

Although our culture today is one of always-on, as human beings, we are not programmed to operate this way. We need downtime. We need some time during which we can switch off, regroup and recharge our creative genius so that we can carry on doing what we do best – keeping the bottom line of our companies’ healthy.

So, this begs the question: what can we do to get this much-needed mind space?

The answer: yoga!

What Is Yoga?

Yoga is an ancient exercise form which was developed in India many centuries ago. The positions – which are called asanas in Sanskrit – were developed to help monks stretch out their bodies after they had been sitting in one position meditating for hours upon hours.

Breathing And Yoga

The yoga positions are matched with participants’ breathing, which – in Sanskrit – is called pranayama. Specifically, the breathing that is practised is called Ujjayi breath which is translated as ‘joyful breath’. Whereas in Pilates, students open their mouths on the exhale,  in yoga when class participants breathe out they do so through pursed lips and slightly constrict the backs of their throats. This produces a sighing sound.

The reason why we’re highlighting the pivotal part that breathing plays in yoga is that it has been scientifically that performing breathing exercises assists with relaxing a person. As a person who is in the throes of a panic attack usually breathes quite shallowly, this practising of deep breaths normalises their breathing, so allowing increased oxygen flow to the brain and allowing the person to think clearer.

Meditation’s Integral Part In Yoga

The practice of meditation is integral to every session of yoga. It usually happens at the end of the asana practice and during this time, participants are invited to slow their breathing down, clear their mind and focus on one mental image.  This could be your happy place or any other mental image which gives you joy.

Thoughts will inevitably come into and out of your mind; however, you shouldn’t fight this. Just acknowledge the thought and let it pass by in a calm and collected manner, or take a break and visit this site for some distraction. If you actively fight against thoughts and push them out of your mind, all you’ll end up doing is making yourself tenser – not the reason why you came to yoga in the first place!

Yoga is a phenomenal way for busy executives to get clarity and the mind space that they need to face the challenges that they face. Try it and see if it works for you!