##WhatisYoga?
Yogaisaphysical,mental,andspiritualpracticethatoriginatedinIndia thousandsofyearsago.It'sdesignedtounifythebodyandmind throughbreathingtechniques,meditation,andpostures(orasanas).
Yogacanbebrokendownintotwomaincategories:Hathayogafocuses onposesorasanas;Rajayogaemphasizesmeditationandbreathwork.
Yogahasbeenaroundforthousandsofyearsbutdidn'tbecome popularizeduntilthe20thcenturywhenitwasbroughttoAmericaby SwamiVivekanandawhotraveledaroundtheworldteachinghis teachingsonVedantaphilosophyattheWorldParliamentOfReligionsin Chicagoin1893.Todaytherearemanydifferenttypesofyogaincluding VinyasaFlowwhichincorporatesflowingmovementbetweenposes whileholdingeachposelongerthanusual;Ashtangawhichfocuseson linkingbreathwithmovementwhilepracticingsunsalutations throughoutyourpractice;Yinwhichinvolvesholdingposesforan extendedperiodoftimeallowinggravitydoitsworkonmuscleswithout anyextraeffortfromyou!Therearesomemeditationclassesnearmeso thatyoucanjoinandstartyoursessions.
##BenefitsofYogafortheMind
Thebenefitsofyogaforthemindarenumerous.Yogaimprovesmental clarity,reducesstressandanxiety,andenhancesconcentrationand focus.
Itisalsobeneficialforpeoplesufferingfromdepressionasithelpsthem feelbetteraboutthemselves.Thepracticeofyogacanhelpyoufeel happierbyboostingyourmoodsthroughrelaxationtechniquesthat reducetensioninmusclesorbreathingexercisesthatincreaseoxygen flowtothebrain.
##BenefitsofYogafortheBody
Yogaisanancientpracticethathasbeenaroundforthousandsofyears. It'soneofthemostpopularformsofexerciseinAmerica,withmore than20millionpeoplepracticingitregularly.Butwhatexactlydoesyoga do?Howdoesitbenefityourbody?
Yogacanhelpimproveflexibilityandposture,strengthenmuscles, increaseenergylevels--andallthiscomesfromjustoneclassperweek! Ifyouwanttogetstartedwithyogabutdon'tknowwheretobeginor howmuchtimeittakesupinyourday(orweek),thenreadonfor answerstosomecommonquestionsaboutthisancientpractice:
##YogaforStressRelief
OnlineYogaclassescanbeagreatwaytoreducestress.Thepracticeof yogahelpsyoulearnhowtorelaxandcalmyourbody,mind,andspirit. Italsoteachesmindfulness--theabilitytobefullyawareinthepresent momentwithoutjudgingoranalyzingwhat'sgoingonaroundyou.
Yogareducesstresshormoneslikecortisolthatarereleasedwhenwe're underpressureorfeelinganxious.Whenthesehormonesdropback downintonormallevels,ithelpsusfeelmorerelaxedandlessstressed outthanbeforedoingyoga!
##YogaforBetterSleep
Yogafordiabetescanhelpimproveyoursleepquality,whichis importantforbothmentalandphysicalhealth.It'sbeenshownto reducefatigue,improvemoodandreducestresslevels.
Yogaalsohelpsmanageinsomniabyreducingstressandanxietythat maybekeepingyouawakeatnight.Inaddition,itimprovesbreathing patternssothatyou'reabletofallasleepfasterandstayasleeplonger thanbeforepracticingyogaregularly
##YogaforWeightLoss
Yogaisagreatwaytoloseweightandkeepitoff.Itincreases metabolism,buildsmusclemass,andboostsenergylevels.
Yogaalsoimprovesflexibilitywhichhelpsyoumovemoreeasilythrough yourdaywithoutfeelingstifforsore
##YogaforPainManagement
Yogaisagreatwaytorelievechronicpain,improvemobilityandreduce inflammation.Yogahasbeenshowntohelppeoplewitharthritis, fibromyalgia,andotherconditionsthatcausechronicpain.
Yogacanalsobeusedasanalternativetreatmentforthosewhohave notrespondedwelltotraditionalmedicalapproaches.
##YogaforMentalHealth
*Reducesdepressionandanxiety:Yogaisagreatwaytoreducestress, whichcanbeamajorcontributortodepressionandanxiety.
*Increasesself-esteem:Whenyoufeelgoodaboutyourself,it'seasier tobeconfidentinyourabilitiesandlesslikelythatnegativethoughtswill getthebestofyouThepracticeofyogahelpsincreaseself-awareness bymakingyouawareofyourbodymovementsandbreathpatterns, whichcanmakeiteasierforpeoplewithlowself-esteemornegative bodyimageissues(suchaseatingdisorders)toacceptthemselvesas theyarewithoutfeelinglikethere'ssomethingwrongwiththem becausetheydon'tlooklikemodelsinmagazinesoronTVshows!
##YogaforHeartHealth
Yogaisagreatwaytoreducebloodpressure,improvecirculationand strengthenheartmuscles.Infact,somestudiesshowthatyogacanbeas effectiveasmedicationforloweringhighbloodpressure.
Yogahelpsyourelaxbyslowingdownyourbreathingandcalmingthe mind.Italsoimprovesflexibilitybystretchingmusclesthathavebecome tightfromstressorinjury(likesittingatdesksallday).
Asanaddedbonus:Yogahasbeenshowntoreduceanxietylevels!
##YogaforOverallWell-Being
Yogaisapracticethatpromotesbalance,strength,andflexibility.It improvesyouroverallphysicalhealthbyhelpingyoutorelaxandreduce stress.Yogaalsoincreasesself-awarenessbyencouragingyoutofocus onthepresentmomentratherthanworryingaboutthepastorfuture
Yogacanhelpimproveyourmentalhealthbyreducinganxiety, depressionandinsomniathroughrelaxationtechniquessuchasdeep breathingexercisesthatcalmthemindandbodywhileimproving circulationthroughoutthebody.