Confidence comes from within, but there are absolutely physical practices that you can complete to boost and build confidence. Yoga is an excellent example of this.

Benefits of a Daily Yoga Practice

There’s no denying that yoga is good for you – on a physical level, it allows us to stretch, love and restore our bodies (which isn’t always something we prioritize! On a mental level, it helps us quiet our minds, reconnect with our authentic selves, and find peace. Here are some of the major benefits of a daily yoga practice, and seven ways that yoga can help you build confidence.

Yoga boosts self-awareness

When you allow yourself the time to practice yoga, you’re giving yourself space to disconnect from the world around you, and reconnect with yourself. This in turn creates a greater sense of self-awareness, which is a crucial step on your personal journey to self-acceptance, and confidence.

True confidence comes from having an in-depth understanding of who you are and what you want – and giving yourself the time for that self-discovery and self-awareness helps you to create this understanding for yourself. Furthermore, building confidence really stems from accepting yourself just as you are – not comparing yourself to others, or comparing yourself to any other version of yourself, even, but accepting where you are at and that you are improving every day. When you practice yoga, you increase your awareness “to dissolve the ego,” and you naturally gain an understanding and respect for all that you are capable of, as well as your limits.

Yoga creates mental clarity

Yoga allows you to take back control of your headspace. We are 100% responsible for the thoughts that we think every day, but in the hustle and bustle of our days, we have a million and one thoughts running through our mind at all times, and it can hard to reel those thoughts in!

Yoga is a great way to allow yourself the space and time to clear your head. You can use this practice to focus on the things that are most important to you, practice gratitude, or completely clear your mind. This is the aim of meditation – to acknowledge thoughts as they arise, and allow yourself to let them go, and allow your mind to clear. To help with clearing and focusing the mind, I like to use a centering three-word power phrase that as I can use as a mantra throughout the class to stay present.

Yoga encourages self-love

In its basest sense, yoga is a way to take care of yourself; it serves as a form of self-care and self-love. Even the physical practice of yoga allows you to recognize all that your body is capable of, and say “thank you” to it for all the work you put it through on a daily basis!

Yoga allows you to surpass limitations and witness progress

Another way that practicing yoga regularly can help improve your confidence is through the process and recognition of growth. Yoga is a practice – a journey – that involves constant self-improvement. Some poses may be easy to you, and some may be difficult, but the important thing is to stick with the practice and acknowledge your progress when it happens.

Recognizing your growth, and mastering new poses encourages pride, self-acceptance, and personal power. “Knowing you can be in control of your physical growth automatically increases your self-confidence,” according to Do You Yoga.

Yoga improves your body tone and physique

Yoga is form of self-care, but also a form of exercise. And as an exercise practice, complete with toning, flexibility, and even some cardio, the practice of yoga will help your body both feel and look better.

In addition, according to LexiYoga, thanks to the breathing component of yoga, “more oxygen can enter your muscles, thus providing your muscles with more vigor,” which will help improve your fitness and your physical appearance. Knowing that you look (and feel) good is a surefire way to boost confidence and self-esteem!

Yoga improves your posture

Another benefit of doing yoga regularly is the wonders that it does for your alignment and posture. Through the practice of stretching, and mindful twists and binds, yoga enforces flexibility and strength in the body. Yoga “honors the natural curves of your spine” and instructs you on the proper way to stand up straight, root your feet in the ground, and hold your head and upper body in a healthy manner. All of these elements combine to give you better posture, which will energize you and help you feel more confident!

Yoga helps fight comparison

When you’re in a yoga class, surrounded by other people, there’s a natural tendency to look around and see how others are holding poses, and – at some level – compare yourself. However, the essence of yoga is to focus on yourself and what’s going on only on your own mat – to fight the urge to push yourself to what you think you should be doing and listen to your body. By committing to a regular practice of self-focus and self-appreciation, you’ll become better equipped to fight feelings of comparison both inside and outside of the yoga studio.

Yogi Surprise says it best: “Confidence is basically a synonym for inner peace and happiness.” When you’re truly happy, and when you’re at peace with yourself and your body, your self confidence is poised to thrive.