YOGA
An Introduction to Yoga
Many of us heard about Yoga and it’s benefits, many of us practice Yoga, but how many of us know what Yoga actually is? And what are the benefits of Yoga practice? In this article I would like to provide simple information, so that you can find your own purpose in your Yoga practice.
YOGA brings health, love and happiness into our life. It heals, balances and purifies mind, body and soul, allowing us to reconnect with our true selves and the entire Universe. Yoga creates space for personal development and spiritual growth. It allows us to be fearless and strong but loving and compassionate at the same time. It inspires us to shape our bodies and to live mindfully in every moment. It simply makes people happy and grateful, better version of themselves. Yoga connects us with the present moment. The more we practice the more aware we become of our surroundings and the world around us. The meditative affects of consistent yoga practice, helps to cultivate inner peace and calmness.
- Stress relief
- Pain relief
- Breathing improvements
- Improves flexibility
- Improves blood circulation
- Increases strength
- Helps with weight management
- Boosts the immunity system
- Regulates adrenal glands
- Regulates the nervous system
- Improves sleep
- Improves digestion
- Increases self-esteem
- Increases body awareness & mindfulness
- Supports a spiritual growth & emotional release
- Connects us with a present moment
- Brings inner peace into the life.
There are several styles of Yoga and each and everyone are pretty unique. I would like to introduce you to a few types which you will encounter practicing with me 🙂 Here we go:
Styles of yoga
Vinyasa Yoga
During Vinyasa practice we connect our breath with movement to flow from one pose to the next one, so it can get quite intense. Vinyasa produces heat which is needed to burn toxins in the body. The core idea of this style is to shift emphasis from posture to breath and therefore realise that postures, like all forms are impermanent. Instead of keeping postures for a long time, asanas are kept for couple of breaths, so that no identification with the posture or body is stimulated. The only thing which is permanent throughout the practice is the focus on the breath.
Hatha Yoga
Considered as the most traditional form of Yoga. All other forms of Yoga are delivered from Hatha. ‘Ha’ means Sun; ‘Tha’ means Moon. The soul is considered to be like the Sun, never changing in brightness. The mind is like the Moon which has fluctuations and phases. In Hatha practice we aim to balance “Ha’ with ‘Tha’, soul with mind. We seek to unite mind with body and soul, and the soul with the Universe. Our personality is guided by the way we breathe. Breathing has a direct relationship with the functioning of the body and mind. Mental conditions are reflected on our breathing pattern and vice versa.
Ashtanga Yoga
By linking the postures it creates a continuous flow of energy that heats up the body, bringing oxygen to the blood, nourishing the glands and internal organs, cleansing and purifying the nervous system, releasing unwanted toxins through perspiration. In Ashtanga practice we cultivate Ujjayi breath. By breathing through the nose and slightly contracting the region at the back of the throat, a hissing sound is produced. The sound of the breath keeps the mind focused. As the mind begins to wonder, the sounds of the breath keeps bringing you back home and away from ‘monkey mind’. The Ujjayi breath calms the nervous system, cleanses and purifies the body.
Yin Yoga
Yin practice consists of a series of long-held, passive floor poses that mainly work lower parts of the body – lower spine, sacrum, hips, pelvis, inner thighs, knees. Those areas are rich in connective tissues. It involves variations of seated and supine poses, held for 2-5 minutes. The core idea of this tyle is increasing circulation in the joints and improving flexibility. This approach of yoga is more meditative and it’s cultivating awareness of inner silence, allowing the mind to become still and peaceful. There are many more types of Yoga and they are all super beneficial for your body, mind and souls alignment, so that you can leave a beautiful, balanced life. Hope I convinced you a little bit to do bring Yoga into your daily practice.
