Why Yoga Can Mend Your Spiritual Wounds
Yoga has become one of the most popular mindfulness activities worldwide. Over 300 million people in the world practice yoga, according to 2022 statistics. Its popularity can be attributed to the benefits yoga provides. Through the practice of yoga, people can improve their physical, mental, and emotional health. A lesser-known fact is that yoga can heal spiritual wounds.
A spiritual wound is a form of suffering in which we are disconnected from our spiritual core. Spiritual wounds can manifest as feelings of isolation, hopelessness, guilt, or shame. The spiritually wounded often feel a diminished sense of self-worth and a detachment from their life’s purpose.
The key to healing spiritual wounds is to engage with practices that connect us with our bodies, minds, souls, and the universe. Yoga is one such practice. By forcing us to slow down and pay closer attention to our bodies, surroundings, feelings, and thoughts, yoga improves our physical conditions and revitalizes our minds and souls. Below, we’ll discuss how yoga can heal spiritual wounds.
Yoga teaches you to appreciate the present moment
Most human suffering is rooted in an obsession with the past and the future. A man obsessed with the past will either mourn what he no longer has or dwell on wounds that are no longer relevant. A man obsessed with the future will either live forever in anxiety, anticipating negative outcomes before they arrive, or live forever in frustration, dissatisfied with the space between where he is and where he wants to be.
People can only achieve spiritual equanimity when they accept and appreciate the present for what it is. One of the biggest spiritual benefits of yoga is that it forces us to shift our attention to the here and now. As we move through poses, we eliminate distractions, focusing only on present sensations, such as our breaths and bodies. Through this sustained focus, we gain a deeper appreciation of the present.
Yoga improves our physical disposition
Spiritual health and physical health are inextricably linked. Physical pain is an all-too-common cause of suffering, and the sustained discomfort can disconnect us from our spiritual core. And scientists have repeatedly proven that practicing yoga can improve physical health. Practicing yoga enhances strength, flexibility, balance, and blood flow. Because they keep their bodies active, yoga practitioners reduce their risks of developing severe health issues, such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and obesity.
Yoga promotes emotional regulation
Excessively dwelling on negative emotions can cause severe spiritual anguish. When we allow our emotions to overwhelm us, we can no longer think clearly or make the right decisions. However, it can sometimes be difficult to uproot from emotional pain. Fortunately, practicing mindfulness through yoga can help us better regulate our emotions.
Because yoga teaches us to focus on the present moment, it allows us to better process what we are feeling. And when we observe our feelings without judgment, it becomes easier to let negative emotions go. The physical benefits of yoga can also help us rid our bodies of negativity. It is known that practicing yoga can reduce levels of cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. With lowered cortisol, we can face life’s stressors with a more tranquil disposition.
Yoga can best heal our spiritual wounds when we carry its benefits beyond the practice itself. By taking care of our bodies, showing greater appreciation for the present, and managing our emotions in healthy ways, we can shed the negative thoughts, beliefs, and feelings that keep our souls wounded. Book a yoga retreat to learn more about how yoga can improve your spiritual health.
Article written by Rosey June