Yoga – Yoga-na Do It?
Sometimes when we think of exercise, the idea of waking up in the morning and getting ready, our first thought says, “Namaste in bed. I am too tired.” It’s a lot of energy to create a workout routine. Exercise is a discipline of the mind and of the body. One exercise shows great benefit to the mind, body, and spirit – yoga.
It’s available to everyone whether you never exercise or always exercise, are pregnant, or experiencing limited mobility. Yoga helps reduce stress, heal your body, and build strength and flexibility, both physically and mentally.
With the current political climate, grounding yourself, reducing stress, and healing your body are essential to keeping your endurance up to get through these turbulent times.
History of Yoga
Some historians believe that yoga dates back to the very beginning of civilization. Records indicate the practice began around at least 2700 B.C. Those records show yoga being practiced and refined in the Himalayan Mountains by Shiva.
Shiva is believed to be one of the first documented “yogis” -someone proficient in yoga. While spreading to many countries, it thrived in India. Many historical artifacts exist in India, showing its deep roots and connection with the people there. As it spread around the world, centuries passed, and yoga made great strides and developments. There are now many different forms and is practiced globally.
Yoga was a practice meant to focus on the mind, body, and spirit. According to Indian documents, “The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’, meaning ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’. As per Yogic scriptures, the practice of leads to the union of individual consciousness with that of the Universal Consciousness, indicating a perfect harmony between the mind and body, Man & Nature.”
Many of the words within yoga have these deeper meanings. Yoga helps people be “kaivalya” or “free” of their stresses, burdens, and fears. And it strengthens not only your physical body but your mental and spiritual body, too. This is why it’s been around for so long and has helped so many people.
Benefits
Studies on yoga show numerous benefits to the practice. Not only do people build muscle and flexibility, it helps them heal their body and mind. Practicing regularly helps people find relief from back pain, specifically lower back pain.
I myself was in a car accident earlier this year that caused three herniated discs. My husband could testify to my constant pain and limited mobility. Yoga helped both of those. You may have to start slowly, but it helps relieve pain and improve your mobility. It also helps those with arthritis. Gentle yoga works best for those with arthritis. Those who’ve tried it report having less pain and swollen joints. It’s not a cure but it’s helpful.
It also helps people show great progress with their mental health and stress. This explains why it also helps people have more energy and improved moods. One study took a group of 328 people and had them practice just once a week. Some people were perfectly healthy, while others had chronic conditions or overall poor health. The group took tests for their overall health, mood, and stress levels before starting the program and again after three months. The results showed that their stress levels plummeted while their health and mood improved significantly.
The study stated that “The degree of subjective symptoms such as easy fatigability, shoulder stiffness, and insomnia also decreased over three months. About 60% of all participants were highly satisfied with participating in yoga classes.”
Physically, it helps people with their flexibility, balance, and strength. You won’t get muscles like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, but it does help create a toned look as you work out many muscles throughout your body. The most significant of these is your abs. Ab muscles provide people with their balance. Anyone who’s tried or even seen the practice knows the importance of balance. How can one hold a tree pose if they cannot stand on one leg?
Your core finds itself highly engaged throughout all forms. Flexibility develops with time. Many positions, especially in advanced practice, require great flexibility. Whether you need to bend down to touch your toes or bend over to make your toes touch your head, flexibility makes yoga what it is. If you want to start but aren’t flexible, do not worry. You start where you are and progress as you go. It’s not about being perfect but working on your mind and body.
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Different Practices
Like most popular forms of exercise, there are a few variations. Yoga offers a few different classifications depending on your health, starting level, and overall purpose. There is even a whole program designed just for pregnant women!
Vinyasa yoga is great for beginners. This style is more “flowy” and slow. Vinyasa helps connect movement to breathing and has a bit more movement involved with mindfulness. Many think yoga is holding one position for two minutes, and it can be, but vinyasa helps those who don’t like to sit still for long.
Yin Yoga is where you hold positions for a long time. When you start, this may be for only one minute, but you could work up to five minutes. Due to the long holds, this practice is considered slow and great for building strength and flexibility. It can be a great way to end a difficult workout.
Kundalini yoga is a very vocal and spiritual form. Many who practice this often attend classes in all white as a belief that it increases their aura and decreases negativity. This practice involves chanting and singing, gradually building difficulty in the physical poses. Many find this kind helps them build their strength, breath support, and reduce stress levels.
Bikram Yoga, also known as hot yoga, is very popular. However, it has very strict rules. Yoga Medicine says, “Each class is 90 minutes, with 26 postures and two breathing exercises, and the room must be 105° Fahrenheit with 40 percent humidity. Additionally, instructors do not adjust students.” Everyone knows if you plan on doing hot yoga then you better prepare to sweat. Some say it helps with flexibility or even flushing unhealthy toxins out of your body through sweat.
Restorative yoga is an incredibly relaxing class. Like Yin yoga, people hold their poses for long periods. With restorative yoga, you may just fall asleep. It’s very focused on the mental state and relaxing the body. Whenever you enter a pose, you want to ease the body into position and enter a calm and meditative state.
Many other kinds exist, but these are some of the most diverse and popular forms. Each offers unique benefits, but all help your mind, spirit, and body grow and thrive.
How to Start
If you want to practice yoga or even become a yogi yourself, do some research on classes offered around you.
The magazine recently covered Spiritually Divine Bri, a local instructor in Vegas who teaches Yin yoga. There is even a local goat yoga class where you practice with goats! And with February being National Goat Yoga Month, it’s a great time to check it out!
Many local gyms offer classes. If you want to focus exclusively on yoga, check out a local studio. Next month on February 22, it’s World Yoga Day, and some local studios or instructors might offer special classes or discounts for people who want to try it out.
If gyms or classes aren’t your thing, or you’re on a tighter budget, thanks to modern technology, you can join instructors online. Once you get the hang of it, you could even create your own routine. Just practicing once a week, shows benefits to your mind, spirit, and body.
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