Even though yoga may be viewed as an exercise it was actually first known as a journey of the body and mind. Yoga is the process of movement known as prana. Western practitioners now understand things about the body that stem from yoga practices.
The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, which means to join together. Prana means your life force. Chakras relate to the centers of your energy located between the base of your spine and the crown of your head.
Many people seek out yoga as a way to simplify their busy life. Yoga will help teach your mind to calm down and find some peace. When practising yoga your energy will become renewed and your body will stay in a healthy condition.
In today's business world finding a good stress reliever is crucial to everyone. Because yoga consists of deep breathing exercises, relaxation and moderate exercise it is becoming known as the best stress buster out there.
Yoga is great for the whole body and provides tremendous results for everyone, even the beginner. The moves in yoga will slowly start to open your mind and body. You will begin to feel taller, you will learn how to breathe correctly and you will have an increased confidence level.
Yoga is specifically designed to work all of your muscle groups. For this reason it is becoming known as a full body workout. It encompasses cardiovascular fitness, leg strengthening and fat burning. What more can you ask for?
There are many reasons why people want to learn yoga. Fitness is one of the biggest reasons for learning but others see yoga as a way to develop themselves as a person. Yoga is a great way to reach your fullness as a person.
Many people who are overweight are getting great results by using yoga. Yoga is very gentle on your body especially when you are out of shape and have difficulty moving. Yoga provides you with a way to get in shape as well as teaching you how to overcome your bad eating habits.
Yoga is great for anyone who has a recurring health issue. It has been known to be very therapeutic and in conjunction with your doctor's advice can help you achieve great results in overcoming an old injury.
Here's a quick recap of how yoga can help you:
If you are considering taking up yoga then you are making a move in the right direction. Yoga has many benefits and is a form of exercise that is perfect for the beginner. In fact there are many yoga for beginner classes that focus on giving you an overall introduction to the world of yoga.
Some of the top benefits of yoga include becoming more flexible. Over time yoga will help you gain more control of your joints and muscles and you will just be able to do so much more. Areas where you will notice more flexibility will be your back, shoulders, hips and legs.
Yoga involves a lot of balancing and this develops body strength. You will learn poses that have you balancing on one leg, or on your hands. Other poses will have you
moving very slowly, this develops control and strength in your muscles. Of course this takes time but being stronger is a huge plus for many women these days!
As your arms, legs and stomach become stronger they will also become more toned. This toned look will add definition to your body, making you feel sexier and attractive. Plus this gives you a great self confidence boost.
Yoga teaches you how to breathe properly and is one of the main reasons why it is recommended for adults and children who suffer from asthma. Learning how to breathe more deeply helps to condition and increase your lung capacity.
Additional breathing techniques can help clear out nasal passages and is beneficial to allergy sufferers. By learning how to breathe correctly you will find that your central nervous system responds differently. You will actually feel calmer and more secure in why your body is reacting in certain ways. Again this is very true for asthma sufferers, once you know what your body is going through, you won't panic and will be better equipped to deal with any sudden attacks.
Yoga for beginners can be done at a local yoga centre, or if you are feeling a little unsure, then you can practice yoga at home. If you prefer to go the home route you have plenty of DVD's, videos and books to choose from. Just find something that is suited to a beginner and practice as recommended.
Practicing in a group may be more to your liking and there are many yoga classes available. These will be segregated into the different levels, from beginner to advanced and even yoga classes for kids and pregnant women.
No matter which route you choose be sure to practice daily and at a level that is comfortable for you. As you progress you can start to look at classes and tapes that are geared towards the intermediate yoga person as opposed to the beginner. That should make you feel great in itself!
A good yoga session should last about 30 minutes and it is best to use an exercise mat or blanket to sit on. Yoga poses for beginners fall into several categories and these will be explained below.
Standing Postures: These poses in the upright position help to relieve the tension and the aches and pains in your body on the outside. While internally they help keep the kidney's functioning correctly. Your circulation and breathing could improve along with your pelvis and lower back area. With regular practicing standing poses will help improve the strength of your knees, shoulders, hips and neck.
Seated Postures: These consist of poses which are performed while sitting down. They are calming poses which have been proven to help relieve stress. You will find that your nerves become relaxed and soothed and you will feel less tired. Many people find that they sleep much better after performing these types of poses.
Reclining Postures: Poses in this class fall into two categories, the prone and the supine pose. The prone poses are the ones done on the floor with you facing downwards. Prone poses help to rejuvenate and energize your body. You are usually lying on your stomach or holding yourself on your hands and knees. The supine poses are those done while lying on your back. These are more restful poses and are normally done at the end of the yoga session.
Forward Bends: These movements help to strengthen your lower back and your hamstrings. They also help with improving your circulation and your digestion.
Back Bends: These movements help to encourage deep breathing and are great for anyone suffering from depression. Your body and mind will feel more energized after performing these movements.
Side Bends: These movements help to stimulate some of your organs including the stomach, liver and your kidneys.
Twists: These poses can be done in either a sitting or standing position. The sitting twists are very intense and increase the mobility of your spine. These poses are also great for relieving headaches, stiff neck and shoulders and backache.
Inverted Postures: An inverted posture reverses gravity and brings fresh blood to your heart and head. These poses are great for anyone needing to improve their circulation and refresh your tired legs.
Balancing Postures: These poses will help develop strength and agility along with improved muscle control and coordination.
Yoga is considered a full body workout because it moves your body in all directions in a very gentle way. Each muscle group becomes stretched and toned. You will find that you develop more flexibility and enjoy greater mobility in your everyday life. Yoga is particularly helpful for anyone suffering from circulatory and breathing problems.
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