What is Yoga? A Brief Introduction

Yoga is a holistic wellness practice that’s all about uniting your body and mind. It’s not just about stretching; it’s a journey to improve your posture, fitness, and overall health. The term ‘Yoga’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘yoke’, which signifies a union. This ancient practice, deeply rooted in Indian culture, involves physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation to help you build strength, tolerance, and mindfulness.

While Yoga has gained immense popularity in the West, it’s important to remember its traditional elements like mantra chanting, which are often left out in modern adaptations. Read along to gain an in dept understanding of What is Yoga and how it can benefit you in your day-to-day life.  

Table of contents 

1) Understanding What is Yoga?  

2) What is the Purpose of Yoga?  

3) Advantages of Yoga  

4) Different Types of Yoga  

5)  Tips to Consider   

6) Conclusion

Understanding What is Yoga? 

Yoga is a practice that originated from Vedas (Indian Philosophy). It incorporates the practice of specific breathing exercises, physical postures and meditation methods. These practices help you manage both your physical and mental health. It also helps you build your strength and flexibility by practising movements that are said to align your Chakras in order to obtain unity between body and mind.      

‘Chakra’ is a Sanskrit word that means ‘wheel’ or ‘circle’. In this context, Chakras refer to the energy centres of your body. Yoga believes aligning the Chakras has the power to influence your physical and mental well-being.   

What is the Purpose of Yoga? 

The purpose of Yoga is to cultivate awareness, self-regulation, and higher consciousness in individuals. Yoga aims to make you more aware of yourself and your surroundings. It incorporates different methods to not only better your physical health but also manage your stress levels. Consistent physical activities like practising Yoga also promote a healthier lifestyle that helps prevent illnesses.   

Advantages of Yoga 

As you may already know, Yoga is a wellness practice that has a lot of benefits for your physical and mental health. But are you aware of the Benefits of Yoga? Well, let’s take a look.  

Build Strength and Increase Flexibility

The postures practiced in Yoga, promote flexibility and movement. Practicing these different postures and retaining such posture builds resistance and strength. Over time with consistent practice, Yoga helps you build strength and increase the flexibility of your body. 

Relives Stress and Improves Mental Health

Yoga helps practice mindfulness, being mindful can help you reduce your stress levels and improve your mental health. It also helps heal the mind from trauma and depression and life a more fulfilling life. 

Aids with Digestion and Strengthens Immunity

A less-known advantage of Yoga is that it aids your digestion process and strengthens your immunity. The breathing exercises help your bowel movements to be smoother. This prevents the build-up of stomach gasses and indigestion that could lead to health issues that, over time, weaken your immunity.  

Reduces Inflammation and Body Pain

If you suffer from chronic back pain or inflammatory issues, you should give Yoga a try! The movements involved in Yoga are strategically crafted to release stiffness in muscles and reduce inflammation. This helps ease out a great deal of your body pain.

Improves Brain Functioning and Sleep Quality 

 Most Yoga postures, if not all, aim to balance out different elements of your body. In addition to all it is benefits, it also helps you carry your own body better in a more balanced and harmonious way.

Additionally, the practice has also been known to drastically improve your sleep quality. Sleep quality also has a play in your brain functioning and, with its improvements, it does contribute to improving the overall brain functions.

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Improves the Balance of Your Body

Most Yoga postures if not all aim to balance out different elements of your body. In addition to all it is benefits, it also helps you carry your own body better in a more balanced and harmonious way.

Improves Cardiovascular Health

If you have issues with your blood pressure or have an unfortunate predisposition to heart problems due to genetics, you should consider practising Yoga. Yoga helps regulate your cardiovascular functioning and prevents the adverse effects of heart problems and blood pressure issues.  

Different Types of Yoga 

 Originally practised in India by the Yogis (traditional yoga practitioners and spiritual mentors), the practice of Yoga has evolved to have many types. Some of the popular types of Yoga are explained in detail below: 

Hatha Yoga 

Hatha Yoga is about establishing balance between body and mind. The words ‘Hatha’ are broken down as ‘Ha’ and ‘tha’, representing the sun and the moon. The term Hatha is meant to portray a balance in the universe, similar to the concept of yin and yang. It typically involves only physical postures (asana) and breathing exercises. These can aid you in establishing a balanced body and mind.

Ashtanga Yoga

Ashtanga Yoga is an incorporation of the eight limbs of Yoga. The word is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Ashta’, referring to the number eight, and ‘Anga’, meaning limbs or body parts. According to the scriptures, Yoga has eight limbs. The eight limbs are as follows: 

1) Yama – A set of moral codes to live by. 

2) Niyama – Physical observances and the practice of self-discipline. 

3) Asana – Practicing proper physical posture. 

4) Pranayama - Breathing exercises that teach you breath control. 

5) Pratyahara - The withdrawal of senses from worldly distractions. 

6) Dharana - The practice of concentration and focusing of the mind. 

7) Dhyana - The practice of meditation and focusing the mind on a single point. 

8) Samadhi - The mental process of attaining oneness with the self. 

Iyengar Yoga 

Iyengar Yoga is an evolution of the classic Hatha Yoga, a more precise and clear method of Yoga for modern practitioners to adapt easily. Iyengar Yoga focuses on three aspects - alignment, sequencing, and timing. Alignment in Yoga refers to the arrangement of your body in the Yoga postures. Sequences here refer to the order of practicing the postures. Timing refers to the timespan you can hold the postures safely while respecting the boundaries of your body. This form of Yoga promotes the use of props to assist asanas to effectively align the body. 

Bikram Yoga 

Invented in 1970 by Bikram Choudhary, Bikram is a form of Yoga that incorporates the use of heat in the process of Yoga. Heat allows the muscles to stretch easier and makes you sweat out toxins aiding weight loss. Bikram Yoga has a set of 26 poses that you move through rapidly until the end of the session, which is usually 90 mins long. The 26 poses of Bikram Yoga are standard everywhere. 

Kripalu Yoga 

Kripalu Yoga is a gentle adaptation of Hatha Yoga that gives equal importance to mind, body and spirit. Kripalu Yoga is a great option if you are a beginner to Yoga.  

Kundalini Yoga 

The word ‘Kundalini’ originated from the Sanskrit word ‘Kundal’ which means circular and refers to a coiled snake.  Kundalini is a form of Yoga that involves singing, chanting, and breathing exercises to activate your Kundalini energy. A circular life force that is coiled at the base of the spine that can be activated through Yoga and meditation. 

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Tips to Consider 

If you are starting your journey with Yoga, here are some tips to keep in mind to be able to practice Yoga consistently: 

Establishing a Time Frame   

To practice Yoga regularly you must specify a time for you to practice daily. Also maintain a timespan you would dedicate to the practice every day. Creating a schedule plan for a week or a month can help you stay consistent.

Choosing the Right Space  

To practice Yoga, you will require an open area that facilitates movement. Choosing an area that is clean and free of clutter is recommended. The environment you choose to practice in may also influence your state of mind. 

Practice on a Light Stomach  

It is advised to practice Yoga on a light stomach, practicing on a heavy stomach would cause discomfort. Certain postures in Yoga also may cause you to regurgitate undigested food. Additionally, heavy meals do make you feel lethargic and may restrict movement. 

Do not Rush the Process  

It's important to start slowly and be gentle. Yoga promotes respecting your body's boundaries. It doesn't require you to push your body past its limits; it builds strength and flexibility slowly and consistently.    

Conclusion 

Now that you know What is Yoga through this blog, embracing Yoga as a daily practice can be transformative. It offers a path to enhanced strength, flexibility, and mental clarity. It’s essential to approach it with mindfulness and regularity to truly reap its rewards. In this blog, we’ve explored the essence of Yoga, delved into its various forms, and highlighted the myriad benefits it can bring to your life. Whether you’re seeking physical well-being, emotional balance, or spiritual growth, Yoga provides a comprehensive approach to nurturing all aspects of your being.   

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