What does practicing yoga mean?

Yoga is a systematic practice of physical exercise, breath control, relaxation, diet control, and positive thinking and meditation aimed at developing harmony in the body, mind, and environment. … Most people are familiar with the physical poses or yoga positions but don’t know that yoga involves so much more.

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AUTHOR

Crystal Lorraine

CATEGORY

Holistic Wellness

POSTED ON

November 13,2021

SOCIAL

What happens to your body when you practice yoga?

During exercise such as yoga, blood flow increases to the muscles bringing oxygen and essential nutrients to the active tissues. … Over time, with regular stretching, the muscles become more flexible. Extensible muscles are far less susceptible to damage in the future, and put less strain on the body’s joints.

YOGA IS MORE THAN ASANA!

Yoga is more than just Asana (movement).

The practice and lifestyle of yoga is not just about the perfect posture, it’s about creating a deeper connection and awareness of ourselves. As defined in the Yoga Sutras the steps required to reach the connection of self is an eight-limbed path. Asana is only the third. Through Asana an appreciation of Self, develops that deeper awareness and becomes an outward expression. One of strengthened appreciation, feelings of gratitude, and awareness of others.

STYLES OF YOGA

Hatha yoga is one of the original six branches of yoga. In Sanskrit “hatha” means physical posture, so essentially Hatha yoga covers all types of yoga.

When you attend a hatha yoga class at a studio you can expect a slower-paced class that focuses on asana (postures) and pranayama (breathing techniques). It is great choice for beginners and for those looking to deepen their knowledge of individual postures.

Vinyasa means “to flow.” Vinyasa yoga is a dynamic practice that focuses on continuous, flowing movements with transitions linked to the breath. This title is often applied to power classes that focus on strength.

Ashtanga yoga is made up of six series, beginning with the primary series. In this strict practice, the student works with a teacher to perfect the first series before moving on to the next series. Ashtanga practitioners move though the set of poses quickly, using the breath to link postures. It is great for the dedicated practitioner who strives for perfection.

B.K.S. Iyengar founded Iyengar Yoga in the 1970s. It is a precise and detail-oriented practice, focusing on proper alignment and sequencing of 200 classical yoga postures. This practice utilizes a variety of props to help the student achieve proper form no matter their level of ability.

Iyengar is seen as a pure form of yoga and offers a wealth of knowledge about the structure of both the body and the yoga pose. It is great for those wanting to have an intimate awareness of each posture, or for those re-entering their practice after an injury.

Yin yoga is all about peace. It focuses on lengthening muscles and connective tissues in a calm, meditative environment. The room is generally dimly lit with soft music playing.

In Yin, students hold few postures for a longer stretch of time — usually five minutes or more. The poses are passive, meaning gravity does the work while the student focuses on breathing and relaxing the body.

Yin yoga postures often focus on stretching the hips, inner thighs, and the psoas muscle (the primary muscle that connects the torso to the legs). Many yogis believe that emotions are stored in these areas of the body, so Yin classes can act as a way to release emotions and stress, balancing the mind and body.

Kundalini yoga practitioners believe there is an energy source located at the base of the spine, coiled like a snake. The yoga practice is made up of large, invigorating, and fluid movements meant to awaken the energy and move it up the spine.

Once the energy moves up the spine it is released out of the crown of the head. This is believed to open the seventh chakra (called “Sahasrara” in Sanskrit), which is connected to enlightenment and spiritual connection.

This largely spiritual class is best suited for those seeking a connection to their higher selves.

Is Yoga A Religion?

Yoga is practiced in most settings in a completely secular way. However, for many, yoga is spiritual. Others use yoga alongside their religious practices without conflict. The philosophy of yoga can be applied in a way that respects, and even enhances, you’re beliefs and practices.

Yoga recommends ethics and life values as a pathway to bringing calm and steadiness to the mind and well-being to the body. The philosophy of yoga is an extension of its psychology and practices. Yoga does not consider any particular religious belief as a requirement for the practice, and one does not need to forgo any faith to benefit from yoga. The only requirement is to uphold the values of ethics and inner peacefulness.

MEDITATION

Remove the mental chatter!

The practice of meditation is an organic, holistic, immune system “booster” that provides us with natural ways to reduce the effects of not only physical, but also mental, emotional, and spiritual pollution. Meditation helps us realize that not only the physical toxins that we encounter day to day in our environment affect us, but also by the pollutants to our mind, our spirit, our energy and our divine nature.

Should I Meditate?

Meditation aids in mental focus, helping to purify the body, mind and spirit. It moves us towards enlightenment and encourages more mindful and healthy behaviors to aid us to a path of wholeness. With a steady and regular meditation practice, we have a much greater sense of inner awareness which enables us to detect sooner when something is not right. By being more in touch with ourselves we’re able to administer self care more quickly and efficiently by adjusting our asana or breathing practice to a more gentler one, spending more time in meditation, eating more mindfully, and resting when necessary.

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