Yoga is related to the meditative practices of Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism. It is more than just physical stretching as some people are lead to believe. It is a physical, mental and spiritual discipline. Its philosophy believes that the mind, body and spirit should be in union and cannot be separated. It does practice a great deal of stretching and poses but it concentrates on creating a balance in the body with meditation, exercise and breathing developing one’s strength and flexibility. Every pose and posture in the practice of Yoga has physical benefits. It creates heat in the body through movement which increases the stamina.
The history of Yoga is a little obscure . Some studies trace back its existence to the mid 3rd millennium B.C. as seals from the Indus Valley Civilization sites were discovered and they were found to have figures resembling certain Yoga poses. A more concrete expression of yogic ideas has been found in connection with no other than Buddha himself. Some of his early teachings obviously discuss meditative absorption. Buddha stated that in addition to the meditative states one must acquire, an individual must accomplish total cessation of mental thinking or activity. Originating from India, it was not until the mid 19th century that Yoga reached the Western Audience. Swami Vivekananda a Hindu teacher toured Europe and the United States and unselfishly shared and disseminated the principles of Yoga.
There are three major styles of Yoga namely Ashtanga, Iyengar and Viniyoga. Ashtanga which means “eight limbs” in Sanskrit, is a fast-paced, intense style of yoga. It is known as the perfect Yoga but it is physically demanding because it is practiced with series of flows and postures one after the other. Due to the complexity of this style it is only advised for the more advanced practitioners. The second major type of Yoga is Iyengar Yoga. It is most concerned with bodily alignment. This Yoga is more on active posing and highly considers detail, precise alignment for postures and the use of props, holding poses over long periods of time. Viniyoga is a methodology for developing individual conditions and purposes. It focuses on the careful integration of breathing and functionality. It is a personalized yoga program for based on factors like health, age, and physical condition, including past or current injuries. This type of Yoga is usually taught privately and its training requires for a genuinely certified teacher.
The latest fashion is Yoga is Bikram Yoga also known as Hot Yoga, this is a series of moves performed in a room heated to 40 degrees
A Yoga outfit is not complicated. Breathable clothes will do, not too loose as not to interfere with some poses and it would help a great deal if the clothing is not super slick because it might cause you to slip. A Yoga mat is a must if you intend to practice Yoga at home or if you don’t want to use Yoga mats that have been used by others. Other than that optional equipment are available like the blankets, blocks and straps. These equipments come in handy for Iyengar Yoga. So for starters, it would be good to choose which type of Yoga fits your personality. Then you can find the Yoga class that you are most at home with. Videos or Yoga DVDs are available but nothing beats from learning personally through an experienced Yogi. Besides, a TV can’t answer questions that may arise in your course of study. Whether you want to stay fit or are on the pursuit of spiritual tranquility, Yoga will meet your desired outcome.
What started as a religious practice is now a highly respected means of promoting health and wellness. Studies have shown great proof that Yoga can help manage a number of health problems such as anxiety, arthritis, asthma, back pain, blood pressure, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic fatigue, stress, depression, diabetes, epilepsy, headaches, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, asthma, insomnia, pain, and anxiety. The management may be associated with the fact that Yoga improves muscle tone, flexibility, strength, stamina, reduces stress and tension through meditation, boosts self esteem, improves concentration and creativity, lowers fat, improves circulation, stimulates the immune system and creates a sense of well being and calmness. So whether you are seeking healing or health and wellness Yoga can be a great tool for you. Yoga does not get boring because even if the poses do not change an individual’s experience to every pose progresses. You will start with little flexibility until you will find the union with each and every pose.