Article by Ray Cacciattolo
It is not surprising that currently there is a greater awareness of the benefits of yoga, including better mental and physical health. More and more people are seeking refuge in the practice of yoga as a way of achieving and maintaining inner peace, calm and well-being.
Yoga can be used as a practical tool in our daily life to destress and function better. Initially, many take up yoga just to improve their physical fitness or as therapy to treat a physical ailment. In many instances, it soon becomes a ‘need’; an important means to deal effectively with daily situations, rather than an alternative form of physical activity.
Through yoga, you become more attuned to your emotions. An increased sense of awareness enables you to have a better mental control. You become calmer and more tolerant, and eventually end up reacting in a positive or at least not in a destructive way when dealing with difficult or unpleasant situations. Your tolerance threshold is improved to the extent that you are less likely to become angry, frustrated and upset.
The ever-increasing life stressors like excessive workload demands, health, relationship and financial problems can negatively influence our well-being. All this can lead to anxiety disorders, mood swings, insomnia and even depression. It is scientifically proven that yoga is an effective therapy to help individuals facing health challenges at any level to manage their condition, reduce symptoms, increase vitality and improve attitude.
Yoga is surely not a ‘fashion or a trend’ that will lose its relevance by time. Since its origin dates back to over 4000 years, it has continuously and certainly proven its significance.
With today’s fast living pace and the ever-increasing daily stressors, an appropriate tool like yoga is an asset to our life. Its net effect is like recharging a battery, making it easier to improve your quality of life on the physical, mental and emotional levels. By finding a right style of yoga according to your needs and a good yoga instructor who you resonate with, you will embark on a smoother journey in life.
Ray Cacciattolo, founder of Functional Fitness Yoga (Malta), is a fully qualified Yoga Instructor (Yoga Alliance 2011), Pilates Instructor (National exercise & Sports Trainers Association 2007), Hatha Yoga Teacher (C.h. Dip. Yoga, Kevala Centre 2005) and Sport Yoga Instructor (National Exercise & Sports trainers Association 2004). Ray started the practice of yoga in 2001 to increase his fitness level. It immediately struck him that practice of yoga is highly beneficial on the physical, mental and emotional level. He highly considers yoga as a way of life, a means not just to get physically fit but also to obtain and maintain inner well-being, harmony and a deep sense of peace. It is his passion sharing the many benefits that yoga has to offer to every person, whatever the age, level of fitness and shape of the body. His teaching experience includes yoga with the visually impaired and blind persons and yoga in prison. He may be contacted at email address:raycacciattolo@gmail.com; contact number: 79555574; website:www.rayogamalta.com ; fb: Ra Yoga Malta
