Yoga – Understanding Yoga And Its Health Benefits
Understanding yoga is not easy. In fact, anything that had been in existence for more than about thousands of years is not easy. The origins of this unique form of physical act or exercise are not very clear. However, experts feel that the origins of yoga were found either in ancient Egypt or ancient India.
As we all know, yoga has gained tremendous popularity since last few decades. The different types of postures of yoga have helped many people to promote healthy mind, body, and soul. It has been proved as an excellent means of relaxation, which proffers a sense of inner peace and balance.
These days, the art of yoga has become a never ending rage among youngsters, children and the old. With celebrities like Madonna embracing yoga for health benefits, the craze for this unique form of exercise is here to stay.
A) What is yoga?
Yoga involves a series of different postures in conjunction with stretches. This is practiced within a holistic mindset and deep concentration that results in emotional, spiritual mental, physical and health benefits.
Most people who have been practicing yoga for a long time have understood yoga as a form of meditation. The more one tends to practice this art, the more one feels enlightened and experience transforming effects. Yoga works towards gifting and developing an individual’s inner as well as outer personality. It also helps in transforming one into a good human.
B) Yoga as a way of life
Yoga can be understood as a lifestyle or a way of life. It is an art of righteous living. Experts would like to refer it as an effective system to benefit the body mind and inner spirit. This unique are was originated ancient years back.
You can find some excellent references to yoga in ‘Puranas’ and ‘Upanishads’. These were beautifully composed by Indian Aryans in the later vedic and post vedic period.
The principles of yoga were described in full fledged eight fold yogic discipline. This is explained by Patanjali in his ‘yoga sutra’. It was composed almost two thousand years ago! The eight important stages of yoga recommended by Patanjali are as follows:
These are the stages of yoga discipline:
a)Yamas – Restrains and abstentions
b)Asanas – Physical exercises or postures.
c)Pranayama – Total control over vital energy or breathing pattern.
d)Niyamas – Observances such as contentment, study, austerities, purity and surrender of the ego.
e)Dhyana – Meditation
f)Partyahara – Withdrawal of the senses.
g)Samadhi – Attainment of the super conscious state
h)Dharana – Contemplation or concentration of the mind.
C) Superb health benefits of yoga
There are several health benefits of practicing yoga.
a)Weight loss and Weight control
b)Enhances immune system and blood circulation in the body
c)Control over anxiety
d)Relief from asthma, multiple sclerosis, headaches, blood pressure and carpal tunnel syndrome.
e)Reduces arthritis pain, depression, stress, heart disease, chronic fatigue and back pain.
f)Helps in removing toxins from the body.
g)Heals several diseases and body ailments
h)Enhances concentration power and creativity; Reduces stress and tension
i)Allows better thinking, enhances flexibility and balance.
j)Leads to spiritual fulfillment.
For more Articles, News, Information, Advice, and Resources about YOGA and MEDITATION please visit YOGA TIPS and MEDITATIONBUZZ
Categories: Yoga Tags: benefits, Health, Understanding, Yoga
Yoga – Understanding Yoga and Its’ Health Benefits
Understanding yoga is not easy. In fact, anything that had been in existence for more than about thousands of years is not easy. The origins of this unique form of physical act or exercise are not very clear. However, experts feel that the origins of yoga were found either in ancient Egypt or ancient India.
As we all know, yoga has gained tremendous popularity since last few decades. The different types of postures of yoga have helped many people to promote healthy mind, body, and soul. It has been proved as an excellent means of relaxation, which proffers a sense of inner peace and balance.
These days, the art of yoga has become a never ending rage among youngsters, children and the old. With celebrities like Madonna embracing yoga for health benefits, the craze for this unique form of exercise is here to stay.
A) What is yoga?
Yoga involves a series of different postures in conjunction with stretches. This is practiced within a holistic mindset and deep concentration that results in emotional, spiritual mental, physical and health benefits.
Most people who have been practicing yoga for a long time have understood yoga as a form of meditation. The more one tends to practice this art, the more one feels enlightened and experience transforming effects. Yoga works towards gifting and developing an individualâs inner as well as outer personality. It also helps in transforming one into a good human.
B) Yoga as a way of life
Yoga can be understood as a lifestyle or a way of life. It is an art of righteous living. Experts would like to refer it as an effective system to benefit the body mind and inner spirit. This unique are was originated ancient years back.
You can find some excellent references to yoga in âPuranasâ and âUpanishadsâ. These were beautifully composed by Indian Aryans in the later vedic and post vedic period.
The principles of yoga were described in full fledged eight fold yogic discipline. This is explained by Patanjali in his âyoga sutraâ. It was composed almost two thousand years ago! The eight important stages of yoga recommended by Patanjali are as follows:
These are the stages of yoga discipline:
a) Yamas – Restrains and abstentions
b) Asanas – Physical exercises or postures.
c) Pranayama – Total control over vital energy or breathing pattern.
d) Niyamas – Observances such as contentment, study, austerities, purity and surrender of the ego.
e) Dhyana – Meditation
f) Partyahara – Withdrawal of the senses.
g) Samadhi – Attainment of the super conscious state
h) Dharana – Contemplation or concentration of the mind.
C) Superb health benefits of yoga
There are several health benefits of practicing yoga.
a) Weight loss and Weight control
b) Enhances immune system and blood circulation in the body
c) Control over anxiety
d) Relief from asthma, multiple sclerosis, headaches, blood pressure and carpal tunnel syndrome.
e) Reduces arthritis pain, depression, stress, heart disease, chronic fatigue and back pain.
f) Helps in removing toxins from the body.
g) Heals several diseases and body ailments
h) Enhances concentration power and creativity; Reduces stress and tension
i) Allows better thinking, enhances flexibility and balance.
j) Leads to spiritual fulfillment.
Understanding The Different Types Of Yoga
There are many different types of yoga and each has its own traits and benefits. By picking up the fundamental on each and every type of yoga, you can determine what is suitable for you.
Hatha Yoga is one of the most widespread and it a divine practice that concentrates on the physical aspects to derive mental, emotional and physical health. It goes back to the fifteenth century and founded by Yogi Swatmarama, a wise teacher. Hatha yoga is called “hatha vidya” with “ha” means the sun and “tha” implies the moon and together they are the “nadis” or the flow of energy in the body and must work to achieve “dhyana” a feature of meditation.
The full notion of the ancient hatha yoga is a divine path that encompasses moral and ethics, exercises, breathe control and meditation. Hatha yoga practices that are taken up by western practitioners largely concentrate on poses. Both hatha and raja yoga concentrate on the physical aspects and are collectively known as astanga yoga.
The key difference is that raja yoga concentrate on “asanas” or poses to prepare the body for extended meditation.
On the other hand, Hatha yoga creates harmony in the mind and body through exercises, breathe control as well as relaxing the mind by relaxing and meditating. Adopting different poses can ease or prevent health troubles from constipation to cancer.
Raja yoga is known as king of yoga and is also referring to as “Classical yoga” or “Astanga yoga”. It is a practice that has to do with the stimulus and harmony of the mind from yoga poses. Raja yoga is also able to manage your feelings in addition to getting your bodies into raja yoga postures. In Indian civilization, the mind lords over the body hence raja.
Astanga, known as eight limbed yoga and is the eight objectives of raja yoga to become a raja yoga master: “Yama” is the application and observance of being moral. “Niyama” is staying true to your own spirituality. The practice in India is believed to be abiding by religious traditions and festivals.
“Asana” is subjecting your body to the various poses to achieve relaxation and increase flexibility. “Pranayama” is keeping to a correct breathing technique by not constantly thinking about the past, as it results in superficial breath. “Prana”, generally refers to “life force” in Hindu. “Pratayahara” is through forming your own strength of will and mind without subjecting to outside influence.
“Dharana” is observing of meditation, “Dhyana” is to maintain self detachment. This is by far the most difficult objective of raja yoga to clarify. An absolute ideal is to be free of any emotional or materials attachment to be one and harmonize with the God and the Universe even depriving yourself of food, oxygen and sleep. Once your body attains flexibility, it will align with your needs and desires. “Samadhi”, this is the highest state, to be one with God, the Nirvana state of raja yoga.
While Ivengar focus on the right alignment and shape of the body and cling to it for extended period of time instead of changing poses like ashtanga yoga. Props are also requiring in ivengar yoga to achieve alignment.
One of the most widespread types of yoga is the bikram yoga and it is practiced in forty degree Celsius and forty percent humidity. It was founded by Bikram Choudhury and main philosophy is to achieve better breathing and body suppleness as well as circulation in the body. The increased temperature will induce the blood to flow.
Bikram yoga has 26 postures and two detailed breathe control. Bikram yoga is taught by trained and licensed practitioners in order to provide a safe environment for those taking it up. This type of yoga will make you suppler with a better body circulation, an ability to manage breathing together with many other benefits.
Besides the few major types of yoga that are mentioned above, other forms of yoga exist but to start off with yoga, it is best to be acquainted with one of these major types. Having a rough idea of all these major types, you can proceed to find out about other forms of yoga. For beginners, astanga yoga is the most ideal as all other different features can be picked up from there.
Categories: Yoga Tags: Different, Types, Understanding, Yoga
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Watching And Understanding Fitness Videos
Home exercise can be more fun when done with fitness videos. In fact, more people are hooked on buying exercise videos because of its vast range of availability. However, some people may doubt the advantages offered by fitness videos. If this is the problem, then they must know some of its great benefits.
• Fitness videos are created for home exercises. Doing workouts at home provide a lot of benefits than going to the fitness gyms. First is the flexibility of schedules. People can do their workouts anytime without worrying how to deal with the crowd of exercisers in a gym. They don’t need to wait for the equipments, meet every scheduled class, or wear appropriate clothes for the exercise. Each fitness video can be used as many times as they want without any fees. But every time you go to a fitness gym, they are required to pay the price. They can also cut mileage expenses for driving cars from their home to a fitness gym.
• Fitness videos are available in a wider range of different types of workouts including strength workouts, aerobic workouts, combination of these first two workouts (circuit workouts), stretching, yoga, and even mental exercises like meditation. These workouts are also available in different styles which include step aerobics, dance aerobics, Pilates, jump rope, and kickboxing.
• Fitness videos are flexible. There are fitness videos for beginners, moderate exercisers, or advanced exercisers. People can also choose videos for particular purposes including workouts for children, for pregnant women, for seniors, and for individuals affected by back pains.
• Fitness videos without requiring any fitness equipment. In addition, fitness videos using equipments such as rubber tubing, stability balls, mini-trampolines, aerobic steps, body bars, free weights, or multi-stationed home gyms are also available. Take note, there is always an available fitness video for any equipment.
• Purchasing fitness videos are easy. These items can be found on the internet, department stores, and catalogs on fitness equipments. Shopping is very convenient and effortless. However, keep in mind these three tips:
- Get fitness videos according to the workouts you really enjoy.
- Select fitness videos that will meet your fitness goals. For example, your objective is to overcome stress then tai chi or yoga videos are good for you; if your goal is weight loss, then aerobic videos perfectly suits you; if you have previously done aerobics exercises, then more advanced dance choreography videos is perfect.
- Consider the space for doing the exercise. Choose fitness videos that are fitted to the area. Aerobic videos need a bigger space compared to yoga videos. Doing aerobic exercises needs forward, diagonal, or backward movements. While doing yoga simply needs one spot to stay.
• Fitness videos are good tools for helping people get the right amount of workouts even at home. Structured routines are given and provide various types of exercise in various intensity levels.
• Fitness videos are effective if followed. People just waste their money if they purchase fitness videos and just simply watch it and do nothing. They need to get up and do what must be done.
Categories: Fitness Tags: Fitness, Understanding, videos, Watching
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