Inotherwords,whatexactlyisYoga?
YogaisanancientIndiandisciplinewithmental,emotional,andspiritual componentsAsanas(postures),meditation,andbreathingexercisesall contributetoitsgoalofachievingthisunion.Thepracticeofyogacanbe dividedintotwobroadtypes:Asanas(poses)arecentraltoHathayoga, whereasmeditationandbreathworkarecentraltoRajayoga.
Whileyogahasbeenpracticedforthousandsofyears,itwasn'tuntilthe 20thcenturythatitgainedwidespreadattentionoutsideofIndia.This happenedwhenSwamiVivekanandabroughtyogatotheUnitedStates whenlecturingonVedantaphilosophyattheWorldParliamentof ReligionsinChicagoin1893Therearemanydifferentkindsofyoga practicedtoday.Some,likeVinyasaflow,involvemovingfluidlybetween poseswhileholdingeachposeforalongerperiodthaniscustomary. Others,likeAshtanga,emphasizelinkingbreathwithmovementwhile performingsunsalutationsrepeatedly.Youcansignupforandbegin attendingmeditationclassesnearme.
TheMentalHealthBenefitsofYoga
Yogahasseveralpsychologicaladvantages.Thementalbenefitsofyoga includeincreasedclarity,decreasedtensionandanxiety,andenhanced abilitytofocusandconcentrate.
Peoplewithdepressioncanalsobenefitfromthisbecauseitimproves theirmoodandself-esteemYogacanimproveyourmoodbyreleasing tensioninyourmusclesandimprovingyourbreathing,bothofwhich increasethebloodflowtoyourbrain.
PhysicalHealthImprovementsFromYoga
Yogaisatime-honoredtraditionthatgoesbackmanycenturiesMore than20millionAmericansengageinitregularly,makingitoneofthe mostpopularkindsofphysicalactivityinthecountry.However,what effectsdoesyogahave?Whatexactlydoesitaccomplishforyourbody?
Justoneweeklyyogalessonmaydowondersforyourbody,enhancing yourflexibility,posture,musclestrength,andvitality.Readonforsome answerstofrequentlyaskedquestionsregardingtheancientpracticeof yoga,suchashowtogetstartedandhowmuchtimeittakesupinyour day(orweek):
ReducingStressThroughYoga
OnlineyogaclassesStressreliefthroughyogaisarealpossibility. Learningtounwindandcenteryourbody,mind,andsoulisakeybenefit ofyogapractice.Mindfulness,ortheawarenessofone'ssurroundings withoutjudgmentoranalysis,isanotherskillthatmaybelearnedfrom this.
Cortisolandotherstresshormonesarereleasedwhenwe'reunder duressorapprehensive,butpracticingyogafordiabetescanhelp alleviatetheseeffects.Whenthesehormonesreturntotheirusuallevels, weexperienceagreatersenseofcalmandserenitythanwedidbefore practicingyoga.
SleepBetterwithYoga
Ifyousufferfrompoorsleepduetodiabetes,practicingyogamaybe abletoassist.Evidencesuggeststhatitcanhelpwithfatigue,mood,and stress.
Insomniasuffererscanalsobenefitfromyogasinceithelpsalleviatethe stressandanxietythatmightkeepthemupatnight.Inaddition,daily yogapracticemighthelpyoufallasleepmorequicklyandstayasleepfor longersinceitimprovesyourbreathingpatterns
HowtoUseYogatoReduceFat
Theweightlossandmaintenancebenefitsofyogaarewell-documented. Itimprovesyourmetabolicrate,helpsyougainmuscle,andgivesyou moreenergy.
Increasedmobilityandlessmuscletensionaretwoadditionalbenefitsof yogapractice.
RelievingPainThroughYoga
Ifyousufferfromchronicpain,lackofmovement,orinflammation,yoga canhelp.Arthritis,fibromyalgia,andotherchronicpainillnesseshave beendemonstratedtobenefitfromyoga.
Thosewhohaven'tgottenwellwithconventionalmedicinecantryyoga asacomplementarytherapy.