Ever wondered about the transformative power of yoga? Dive into the philosophy and myriad paths of this ancient practice. Discover the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit, and explore the endless health benefits – from improved flexibility to stress relief and enhanced happiness. Curious about where yoga originated and its journey to becoming a global fitness phenomenon? Read on to uncover the harmony that yoga can bring into your life.
Do you have anyone in your circle who’s passionate about yoga? High chances are, they seem calm, happy about life, and they’re in great shape. This makes sense since there’s probably no other physical activity that lets you reap the benefits of a workout, while also helping you find harmony through mind-body connection.
If you’ve been thinking of giving yoga a try, then here’s some basic information that will help you understand what it’s all about.
In simple words, yoga is both an art and science of healthy living. It says that there is an interconnection between mind, body, and spirit – they are inseparable. Similar to Buddhism, Yoga philosophy states that spiritual ignorance is the cause of human suffering and is tied to our cycle of birth. Without understanding our spiritual nature, we cannot break free from suffering.
Yoga teachings focus on cultivating mental discernment, fostering detachment, gaining spiritual knowledge, and developing self-awareness.
The health benefits of yoga, including home yoga, are literally endless. Let’s take a look at a few:
Yoga is a full body workout. So, you won’t be surprised if we tell you that the main reason why people pick it up is because it enhances flexibility, and it’s an important aspect of human health. There are many types of yoga (we will discuss them in more detail later), but even beginners yoga that requires less intensity has a positive impact on boosting muscle elasticity. As we age, our flexibility decreases - it’s a natural process. However, we can slow it down by regularly practising yoga poses and flows.
Saying that stress is a killer isn’t an overstatement. According to the Mental Health Foundation and YouGov, 74% of adults in the United Kingdom are experiencing the impact of prolonged stress. This can lead to depression, high blood pressure, and heart disease. No wonder the second reason why people practise yoga is to help with stress relief. Just bear in mind that yoga alone might not be enough to restore harmony; it works best if combined with mindfulness practices like meditation and breathwork.
Did you notice that your friends who do yoga seem to be happier? Well, that’s because it improves serotonin (the happiness hormone) levels and reduces cortisol – the hormone responsible for stress. Also, by practising yoga you learn how to listen to your body and you improve the mind-body connection. Here are a few yoga poses for happiness: sun salutations, happy baby pose, feathered peacock, and camel pose – give them a try.
Yoga contributes to a healthy body weight. It’s partly because yoga practitioners tend to pay more attention to the nutritional value of what they eat – they’re mindful eaters. According to research, people who practise yoga for at least half an hour, once a week, for a minimum of 4 years gain less weight during middle adulthood.
Since yoga improves strength and flexibility, it’s a wonderful medicine for relieving lower back pain – and you don’t need a prescription for it. In fact, back in 2017, there was a study that analysed the impact of yoga on people with chronic back pain. Those who attended yoga classes for three months were less likely to take pills to manage their back pain than those who didn’t.
Yoga originated over 5,000 years ago, in the northern parts of today’s India. Archeologists have found numerous evidence proving that it was an important part of the ancient Indus Valley culture.
While it’s a Hinduist philosophy, yoga has also made its way into other traditions in the region, including Jainism and Buddhism.
But it wasn’t until the late 1800s that it was introduced in Europe and the U.S. Back then, people were drawn to yoga as a way of life, with physical activity being just a part of it.
So, how did yoga go from being a spiritual practice to a worldwide fitness phenomenon? In short, there were two main reasons – the hippie movement of the 1960s and 1970s and the VHS at-home workout craze in the 1980s onward.
Fast forward to today, and the word ‘yoga’ is an umbrella term for anything from traditional practices to modern styles, some of which draw from physiotherapy and acrobatics.
Thinking of giving yoga a try? Here are some of the styles you’ll likely see at your local studio and on YouTube.
If the title of the class you’re interested in says ‘yoga’ only, then high chances are it’s going to be a ‘Hatha’ practice. It’s the most popular type of yoga in Europe and the U.S. Sometimes, it’s also a term used for practices that are a blend of two or more yoga styles.
Hatha yoga features a mixture of poses, meditation, and breathing exercises. This type of practice promises to strengthen your core and improve your posture. It also helps build a mind-body connection. How so?
While practising Hatha yoga, you’ll learn to control and use your breath to improve your endurance, all the while calming your mind by becoming aware of the ‘here and now’.
If you’re looking for a beginners yoga class or at-home practice, then ‘Hatha’ might be a good choice.
The term ‘Vinyasa’ is Sanskrit for “arranging something in a special way”. In this yoga style, you perform yoga poses one after another, in a specific order. This makes it one of the more physical styles out there.
For a beginner, keeping up with the movements might feel challenging. But don’t be discouraged! As you continue your practice, you’ll learn the sequences and your movement will become more and more harmonious. Ultimately, you’ll move from one position to the next in a rhythmic flow, where one breath equals one type of movement.
If, so far in your fitness journey, you’ve always enjoyed dynamic sports, then you might like Vinyasa.
While practising Iyengar Yoga, you pay attention to three aspects – getting into a proper pose, following the right sequence, and maintaining your position for a specific time.
While it bears a resemblance to Vinyasa in that you follow a specific order of poses, Iyengar involves holding each position for an extended period. The goal is to find stability and gently progress before you move on to the next yoga pose.
Speaking of progress – what separates Iyengar from many other styles is that it lets you use props to avoid injuries. For example, if you can’t get into a side plank yoga pose called Vasisthasana, you can use a chair to support you. The goal is to get into as proper a position as possible, but without pushing yourself beyond limits or worrying about injury. As a result, you can focus on learning the sequences and truly connecting with your inner self.
So, if you’re looking for a beginners yoga class or home yoga style with a soft learning curve, Iyengar might just be ‘the one’! The same goes for any injured athletes out there – this style can help you regain strength without putting yourself at risk.
Hot yoga says exactly what it means – you engage in your practice in a high-temperature environment to encourage sweating and detoxification. It was developed by yoga guru Bikram Choudhury, which is why the original hot yoga style is called ‘Bikram yoga’. Yogis engage in 26 different poses in temperatures of about 40°C and a humidity of 40% to create conditions similar to those in India.
Nowadays, ‘hot yoga’ is more about following these challenging external circumstances than it is about following Bikram yoga. For example, some studios run a hot vinyasa flow for those who are looking to work up an extra sweat.
Bear in mind though that it’s not a good fit for everyone. For example, if the sauna makes you feel light-headed, you dehydrate easily, or suffer from any chronic illnesses, then it’s always good to consult with your physician. Or, perhaps, simply choose a ‘colder’ yoga style.
Restorative yoga is a style that encourages physical, mental, and emotional healing. It’s much less about pushing yourself beyond your physical limitations than it is about launching internal healing processes and quitting ‘fight or flight’ mode.
In this practice, you rely heavily on the use of yoga blocks, pillows, blankets, and other accessories that help you feel at ease as you hold your poses for an extended period. As you engage in each pose, you focus on breathing exercises to help lower your heart rate and release feelings of calm.
A restorative yoga practice is something you can turn to in between other, more physically challenging sessions like vinyasa or hot yoga, or simply when you need to find your inner harmony.
Prenatal yoga helps strengthen pelvic muscles and lowers discomfort experienced during pregnancy. It also teaches breathing techniques which might come in handy as you go into labour or experience shortness of breath in the third trimester.
If you’re expecting for the first time, prenatal yoga can help reconnect with your body and mind, as you experience plenty of new sensations and emotions.
Some of the same poses practised in prenatal yoga are also helpful as you recover post-labour.
Yoga is a great choice if you’re looking for a full body workout that also leaves you feeling relaxed. But to make the most of what yoga has to offer, it’s best to supplement it with mindfulness practices in between sessions.
There are so many different types of yoga that you’ll certainly find one that’s great for you – both dynamic classes where you constantly change poses, and those where you hold positions for a longer period and work on your endurance.
So, if you’ve been wondering what should make it to your New Year’s resolution list, then why not put yoga on it? Good luck, and have fun!
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