Yoga doesn't end on the mat; its benefits stay with you all day, says Radhika Narayan

Actor Radhika Narayan grew up immersed in the benefits of yoga as her late grandfather was an instructor. “Though he’s no longer with us, the values and knowledge he shared with my brother and me when we were young, remain. That’s why I still practice yoga regularly,” Radhika tells Bangalore Times on International Day of Yoga. “As an actor, I love that yoga keeps me moving, especially given the nature of my job. All I need is a mat – or even no mat – and I can practice anywhere,” she says. Excerpts:

‘ULTIMATELY, THE GOAL OF YOGA IS TO GUIDE YOU INWARD’
Yoga is incredibly versatile as an exercise. It boosts not just your physical health, but also your mental well-being, fostering resilience, focus and strength. Emotionally too, mastering breathwork through pranayama helps you understand the direct link between your moods and your mental and emotional health. Ultimately, yoga aims to guide you inward, with the goal of achieving samadhi, or inner peace.

‘WHEN I TOOK A BREAK FROM YOGA, I REALISED HOW MUCH ANXIETY HAD BUILT UP’
Even after years of practice, I’d still call myself a yoga beginner. I remember I had to take a break from yoga because I was nursing a shoulder injury - that’s when I truly understood yoga’s impact. Without it, I saw how much anxiety had kicked in without my knowledge, how much tension had kicked in, how irritable I was. That’s when I realised how much yoga had been helping me, especially with today’s constant hustle. Yoga isn’t just what we do on the mat; it’s what we carry with us throughout the day.

‘WITH YOGA, THE OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS’
Wherever I am, no matter what, no matter when... all I need is a mat – or even no mat – to practice yoga. With yoga, the options are endless. Yoga can always be customised to suit your needs. You don’t need to skip out on moving your body; you can do it no matter where you are.

‘IF YOU WANT GOOD HEALTH, YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN’
Because we’re battling reduced attention spans, people often think yoga is boring. But it’s important to understand that yoga is a slow format. If you want good health, you need to slow down. We’ve confused stability and relaxation with boredom. We need more people talking about yoga, the importance of slowing down, and its health benefits. Once you realise your fast-paced life is harming your health, you’ll see the need to slow down. And yoga is one of the best tools for it.

Pics: Karthikeyan Sairam; Location: Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore