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Yoga is the art and science of self-mastery. As such, regular practice of yoga asanas, breathing techniques and meditation have a profound effect on your ability to master your emotions. In the process of mastering your emotions, yoga enables you to strengthen and tone your body. There are many forms of yoga schools, each tradition offers you a unique and insightful perspective into yoga. For example, Bikhram yoga is yoga practiced in a heated room following a set sequence of 26 poses, whereas Sivananda Vedanta yoga focus on 12 primary poses with an emphasis on spiritual awakening via bhakti yoga (chanting). Regardless of the school or type of yoga practiced, the schools share a common thread and set of principles. Different traditions may place greater emphasis on these principles but the essence of yoga, strength in diversity and unity runs through all traditions. Yoga encourages you to tune in and become aware of what is going on in your body. The ability to be body aware is a skill and may take many lessons to understand, feel and master. This inner awareness underpins all yoga asanas and, in my view, distinguishes yoga from, for example, gymnastics or a regular aerobics class. In yoga, you are encouraged to go within, to explore what is going on within your body, to listen to your breath and allow your breath to flow through all parts of your body - particularly areas of resistance or tightness. Taking this into account, it is difficult to say one pose is harder to master than another. Types Of Yoga Poses Yoga poses fall into five main categories 1. Inverted Poses - such as the Headstand or Shoulderstand. 2. Backward Bend Poses - such as the Cobra, the Camel or Locust Pose. 3. Forward Bends - for example, the Seated Forward Bend, or Seated Angle Pose. 4. Twist Poses - such as the Half Spinal Twist. 5. Standing Poses- for example the Mountain Pose, the Triangle Pose or Warrior Sequence. Your body shape and individual health and fitness levels have an impact on how easy, or difficult you find it to practice the different yoga poses. For example, you may be very supple in the hip area and find it a doddle to sit in the full locust position, whereas, your friend may have tight hamstring muscles which make it harder for him to master this pose.
Other students may topple over in the Tree Pose whereas your sense of balance and focus means you find this pose easy to do. One of the first guidelines your yoga teacher will remind you about is that yoga is a personal practice - even in a class situation. Yoga is ultimately an individual experience with an emphasis on quietening your mind and dissolving your ego to experience the sense of unity and oneness within all. Human nature means you will automatically compare yourself to other students. When I teach students, I gently remind students to focus within, to set their own standards of mastery and perfection. It is too easy to look at co-students and berate yourself if your backbend is not as deep as your neighbour's backbend; or if you are not able to place your toes behind your calf in the Eagle Pose. To sum up, in my view, regular yoga practice instills a sense of balance and calm within the body and mind. The toughest yoga poses to master are poses which require you to let go of your attachment to the outcome, the look of the pose and surrender as you breathe through areas of resistance in the body. When you can achieve a sense of unity, balance and ease in your body then you are the master of the pose.
Ready to discover more yoga tips to help you rest and take care of yourself? Then I invite you to claim your Free Special Report "Energize Your Day - Top Ten Yoga Exercises To Jump-Start Your Day" when you visit http://www.yogainspires.co.uk Peace and Blessings, Ntathu Allen, Yoga Teacher
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