The practice of yoga is designed to unite mind, body, and spirit, and is based on the yogic premise that the mind and body are one, and that by the correct practice of yoga it is possible for the body to reach a place of harmony and heal itself.
There are now almost 6 million Americans who are believed to have experienced the benefits of yoga firsthand. Awareness of the body is assisted through the practice of yoga, improving a person's posture, their movement, and their alignment. Through the regular practice of yoga, people become centered and relaxed, less stressed, have more energy, and feel more peaceful, healthier and happier.
The start of a class usually consists of breathing and stretching, which aids participants in preparing mentally as well as physically. During most classes, the asanas are performed either as individual poses, or linked together in vinyasana. The class usually ends by a period of relaxation and meditation in shavasana (corpse pose).
Many forms of can be practiced, and there are many classes offered. There are different benefits to be gained from engaging in the various forms. Iyengar is great for promoting the right bodily alignment, and may use props like straps, blocks, and cushions. Bikram (also known as hot yoga), is performed in a heated room. There are usually 26 poses performed in a particular order in a class. Hatha yoga includes both Iyengar and Bikram, and both are common in the US, for their promotion of good breathing and strengthening.
What are the benefits of yoga for you? For starters, it promotes flexibility, and improves both circulation and muscle strength. It's benefits, however, are more than physical, as it also helps promote relaxation and calmness. It is designed to balance a person's life, with respect to physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.
Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years, but in recent years it has been studied scientifically. Modern medicine has demonstrated that it is beneficial for the body. There has been a great deal of research done into the health benefits over the years, both of the asanas (poses) and pranayama (breathing). Yoga produces physiological, psychological, and biochemical effects on the body.
As far as physiology is concerned, yoga is able to reduce the respiratory rate and pulse, it can lower blood pressure, improve cardiovascular activity, assist in the body's excretory systems, aid in weight control, and effect a decrease in pain. Psychologically, yoga has been demonstrated to improve overall mood and feelings of well-being, it can decrease both anxiety and depression, improve the concentration, assist in learning, and even improve social skills and depth perception, as well as an overall increase in self acceptance. Biochemically, yoga has been shown to decrease blood glucose, sodium, both LDL and VLDL cholesterol, and increases HDL cholesterol and hemoglobin, and also creates a decrease in overall white blood cell count.
Yoga is a simple way of improving overall health, as it can do so much more than other forms of exercise for all over body benefits. - 31856
There are now almost 6 million Americans who are believed to have experienced the benefits of yoga firsthand. Awareness of the body is assisted through the practice of yoga, improving a person's posture, their movement, and their alignment. Through the regular practice of yoga, people become centered and relaxed, less stressed, have more energy, and feel more peaceful, healthier and happier.
The start of a class usually consists of breathing and stretching, which aids participants in preparing mentally as well as physically. During most classes, the asanas are performed either as individual poses, or linked together in vinyasana. The class usually ends by a period of relaxation and meditation in shavasana (corpse pose).
Many forms of can be practiced, and there are many classes offered. There are different benefits to be gained from engaging in the various forms. Iyengar is great for promoting the right bodily alignment, and may use props like straps, blocks, and cushions. Bikram (also known as hot yoga), is performed in a heated room. There are usually 26 poses performed in a particular order in a class. Hatha yoga includes both Iyengar and Bikram, and both are common in the US, for their promotion of good breathing and strengthening.
What are the benefits of yoga for you? For starters, it promotes flexibility, and improves both circulation and muscle strength. It's benefits, however, are more than physical, as it also helps promote relaxation and calmness. It is designed to balance a person's life, with respect to physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.
Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years, but in recent years it has been studied scientifically. Modern medicine has demonstrated that it is beneficial for the body. There has been a great deal of research done into the health benefits over the years, both of the asanas (poses) and pranayama (breathing). Yoga produces physiological, psychological, and biochemical effects on the body.
As far as physiology is concerned, yoga is able to reduce the respiratory rate and pulse, it can lower blood pressure, improve cardiovascular activity, assist in the body's excretory systems, aid in weight control, and effect a decrease in pain. Psychologically, yoga has been demonstrated to improve overall mood and feelings of well-being, it can decrease both anxiety and depression, improve the concentration, assist in learning, and even improve social skills and depth perception, as well as an overall increase in self acceptance. Biochemically, yoga has been shown to decrease blood glucose, sodium, both LDL and VLDL cholesterol, and increases HDL cholesterol and hemoglobin, and also creates a decrease in overall white blood cell count.
Yoga is a simple way of improving overall health, as it can do so much more than other forms of exercise for all over body benefits. - 31856
About the Author:
Yoga instructor and writer, Ana Paula Hernandez, has been passionate about yoga for over twenty years. She believes the key to success in yoga is developing the right yoga poses and yoga postures right from the start.
