What is Yoga?
Yoga means to unify and it has its origins in an ancient indian spiritual philosophy.
These practice combines physical, mental and spiritual exercises, in order to achieve body control and mind tranquility, while harmonising body and mind, to prepare it for a deeper spiritual practice - meditation.
These practice combines physical, mental and spiritual exercises, in order to achieve body control and mind tranquility, while harmonising body and mind, to prepare it for a deeper spiritual practice - meditation.
Yoga is the path to transcendence .
Apart from its physical, mental and spiritual benefits, yoga also has amazing health benefits.
Proven Health Benefits of Yoga
- Increases flexibility
- Lowers blood pressure
- Improves heart health
- Promotes better sleep
- Relaxes
- Improves body balance
- Improves posture
- Promotes blood circulation
- Builds muscle strength
- Promotes weight loss
- Relieves back pain
- Releases tension in the body
- Promotes inner peace
- Promotes positive thinking
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Others
Styles of Yoga
There are several different styles of yoga that combines stretching and strengthening poses (asanas) with breathing techniques (pranayamas), meditation (dhyana) and, normally, ends with a relaxation period (savasana).
Some of the most populares yoga styles are:
Hatha yoga - Is a gentle introduction to the most basic postures of different yoga styles. It's the ideal yoga style for beginners.
Iyengar - Developed by the indian B.K.S., this meticulous yoga focus in the correct alignment of each pose. Props, like blocks, straps, chairs are often used to help the beginners to move the body into the proper alignment.
This yoga is performed at a slow-pace and, generally, poses are held for a longer time.
Ashtanga - This ancient and traditional indian yoga is based in the vigorous and fluid movement of a specific sequence of postures, synchronized with breath, that increases the difficulty level, while moving from posture to posture.
Vinyasa - Consists on a continuously rapid flow between poses, integrating breath into every movement.
Similar to Ashtanga yoga, however there is no fixed set of poses.
Kundalini - This style of yoga has a more spiritual approach and its main goal is to release the energy trapped in the base of the spine, through repeated movements, breath exercises, chanting, mantra and meditation.
Namaste!
