From HIIT to Om: My Unexpected Love for Yoga

To be honest, I’m a HIIT girl at heart. I need that adrenaline rush, a shouting instructor, music pumping in sync with my racing heartrate - the kind of workout that leaves me drenched, sweaty, and glowing with the satisfaction of having given it my all. So when I decided to give yoga a try, I thought it would be… well, a breeze.

Turns out, not so much.

What often looks so serene and effortless from the outside felt very different in reality. Let’s just say my early attempts came with a soundtrack of huffs, puffs, and groans — so much so that my son closed his bedroom door to avoid the background noise of his mom struggling through her online class. My daughter, meanwhile, flatly refused to join my yoga experiments and just as quickly closed her own bedroom door so she did not have to witness the spectacle. In the end, I was not as lonely as I expected — the biggest of my dogs decided to share the mat with me (yes, downward dog indeed), which made the whole experience no less challenging.

Fast forward a little, I can proudly report that I have managed to control the noises (without actually suffocating myself in the process). These days, I can even practice yoga in public at the gym — surrounded by people, no dogs — without completely falling apart. Progress, right?

But here is the thing: what really surprised me is not just how challenging yoga can be, but how incredibly good it makes me feel. Beyond the physical stretch, there is something about yoga that shifts your whole state of being.

Here are some of the benefits I have discovered (and science agrees):

• Strength & Flexibility – Yoga tones and strengthens muscles while improving flexibility. Yes, those poses that look “easy” are actually powerhouses for core and joint stability.

• Better Breathing – Breathwork (pranayama) in yoga teaches you how to breathe deeply and intentionally. This calms the nervous system and gives you more energy during the day.

• Stress Relief – Yoga reduces cortisol (the stress hormone), helping you feel calmer, more grounded, and less reactive.

• Improved Focus & Clarity – With every pose and mindful breath, you’re training your mind to be present. This focus carries over into daily life.

• Balance — in Body & Mind – The postures enhance your physical balance while the practice itself cultivates emotional balance.

• Better Sleep – Regular practice has been shown to improve sleep quality, which feels like the ultimate luxury these days.
  

  And perhaps my favorite:

• The Bliss Factor – That post-yoga feeling where you walk out of class with a serene smile, floating through the world with a little more softness and love.
  

That is exactly what I experience — drifting past the heavy-weight lifters at the gym, with my inner calm intact. With age comes wisdom, and for me, it seems that wisdom came wrapped in yoga.

It is no wonder that the wellness retreat program at Chiva-Som Hua Hin dedicated entirely to yoga is called Yoga for Life. It could not be more appropriately named.

Namaste. 🙏