Yoga has become the core of the many relaxation and meditation techniques. It is a spiritual practice that has been in existence for centuries. It involves meditation and spiritual enlightenment. The perks of yoga are physical strengthening, toning and stretching. The fundamental concept that drives yoga and the results of yoga is that the mind and body are connected.

What it is

Yoga is acquired from Sanskrit and it means “union”. Yoga uses postures and breathing methods to relax as well as to enhance strength. The yoga pose helps the person doing yoga to be more aware of their environment as well as their body and mind. There are many forms of yoga and determining the best one for a person depends on the person’s goals and preferences.

Types of Yoga

The many kinds of yoga depend on the intensity of the yoga as well as where the training takes place. Some of the known yoga types are:

• Hatha

It is a physical yoga practice which is one of the original six branches of yoga. It also entails almost all the modern types of yoga. If you go to a yoga studio today, the classes called hatha are the basic way to do yoga breathing and posture exercises.

• Bikram

This yoga technique takes place in a room whose temperature is higher than the ambient temperature. The heated room’s temperature is raised to around 105 degrees and humidity is maintained at around 40 percent. It is named after the inventor and incorporates around 26 basic postures; each is done two times.

• Anusara

It is a purist form of yoga with a sense of humor. It is designed to be heartfelt and receptive. The trainees are encouraged and guided to express themselves through the yoga poses to their maximum ability.

• Ashtanga

It is a series of six established pose sequences which are strenuous. They are practiced one after the other. The Ashtangis move swiftly switching from pose to pose with each inhale and exhale. The series of poses connected by the breath this way forms another type of Yoga known as vinyasa.

• Iyengar

It is a purist form of yoga. There are little equipment to help you be in perfect positions. They are props like blocks, straps, and incline boards. This is yoga for any ages and is about the alignment precision and deliberate arrangement.

• Vinyasa

It is also called power yoga and involves athletic and active styles which are borrowed from the ashtanga traditional system. It however does not stick to the same arrangement of poses each time like ashtanga and each style is different depending on the instructor.

Despite the many forms of yoga and their overall benefits, few people understand the true power of yoga. Since yoga relies fundamentally on the connection between the mind and body, the power of yoga is experienced as a result of the mind’s influence on the body or vice versa. The benefits of yoga are therefore both physical and mental.

The mental power of yoga includes:

• It eliminates and discourages stress

Yoga has the power to fight off stress and boost positive moods. It offers a temporary escape from routine life since every yoga experience is unique. Studies show that the mindful-based reduction of stress which can be accessed at the core of yoga helps lower anxiety and stress. Practicing yoga for 12 minutes every day for eight weeks lowers the immune system’s inflammation response. Our bodies lose the ability to regulate our inflammatory response when we are stressed. This can lead to health problems and higher risks of depression.

• Brainpower boost

Yoga improves the function of your brain. It improves the focus and helps you retain the information you get better.

• Helps the cardiovascular system

Yoga helps keep your heart stronger and healthier. The poses keep circulation of the blood up while you focus on the breathing. The cardio conditioning strengthens the core muscles and also keeps blood and oxygen flowing throughout your body. If you suffer from hypertension, you need to pick a mat and start doing yoga.

• Stronger immune system

Regular practice in yoga helps propel antioxidants all through your body which leads to a better immune system. It also raises the ability to heal when you are sick or injured. Yoga also plays an important role in the cure of autoimmune diseases. It helps reduce the symptoms that are triggered by the diseases. The symptoms readily alleviated by yoga include; malaise, fatigue weakness, among others.

• It helps mood determination

Doing yoga helps you feel centered and happy. You may think that you control all your responses based on how you think. In most cases it is true. One way however, of controlling what you think is through yoga. Yoga encourages you to live in the moment and as a result, since you are not thinking of other activities, your mood automatically improves. This is one of the main reasons for yoga; it encourages the learner to reflect and live in the moment.

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