Yoga Poses for Your Health
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2013 Yoga Poses for Your Health Compiled by: Fitness-Health Team Fitness.com Yoga for Your Health Curious about yoga? Yoga is a very popular form of workout that more and more people are starting to get into as they learn about all the different benefits that it can provide. But, if you're brand new to yoga and haven't done your research, you may not be making the most of this type of workout program. There are a number of different variations of yoga that can be performed, so it's essential that you understand what each is about so that you can pick and choose the variety that is going to best benefit you with the goal set that you currently have. Learning some of the top key benefits that you'll get from each yoga class that you perform will also help you stay motivated and committed to doing your sessions and making the physical progress you desire. Yoga is about more than just physical activity however. Those who participate in yoga for an ongoing period of time are going to notice that they benefit from a psychological standpoint as well. While many other variations of exercise as strictly focused on burning fat, improving your strength, or allowing you to have some fun with your physical fitness program, yoga is one that really interconnects you mind and body together. So read through the following series of articles so that you can get all the vital information that you need to know about yoga. A Brief History Of Yoga - If you are considering taking up yoga, or you are new to the practice you might be curious to find out more about yoga’s fascinating history. Yoga is sometimes described as the oldest science in life and the story of how yoga began is shrouded in mystery. A Guide To the Different Types Of Yoga - There are many different types of yoga that have been developed by various respected yoga teachers over the years. The kind of yoga class you choose will depend on your needs, level of experience and personal tastes and you may have to try a few different styles of yoga before you find a type that particularly suits you. The Health Benefits Of Yoga For Women - The health benefits of yoga for women are so wide ranging it’s difficult to know where to begin. This amazing practice gives the body a full workout and in a gentle way. Yoga and Weight Loss - Many people wrongly assume that practicing yoga will not help them to lose or maintain their weight. However when you look at the kinds of people who practice yoga regularly you will generally find that their bodies are slim with toned muscles – so why is that? Well anyone who is into yoga in a big way probably incorporates a healthy diet into their lifestyle because yoga and eating healthily go hand in hand. Yoga And Your Mental Health - For many years, devotees of yoga have been telling the world that bending our limbs into a variety of contortions is good for the mind, body and spirit. There is a great deal of information available about the health benefits of yoga and how it can improve your levels of strength and flexibility. Yoga and Your Reproductive Health - There are several health benefits for women who practice yoga. For example, women who regularly take yoga classes are said to experience less pain during childbirth and menstruation. Yoga and the Menopause - Every woman experiences the menopause at some point in her life this is a fact and the menopause is not an illness nor should it be treated as such. Usually the menopause takes place somewhere between the ages of 45 to 55 however it can begin earlier, later or as the result of a hysterectomy operation. Pre Natal and Postnatal Yoga - Pregnancy is a time of great change, anticipation and excitement for many women but it can also be a time of discomfort and pain too. Many women have to change their regular fitness routine when they become pregnant, as some sports are not advisable during pregnancy particularly during the later stages of the pregnancy. A Brief History Of Yoga If you are considering taking up yoga, or you are new to the practice you might be curious to find out more about yoga’s fascinating history. Yoga is sometimes described as the oldest science in life and the story of how yoga began is shrouded in mystery. The reason for the mystery appears to have started with the theory that the practice of yoga was revealed only to enlightened sages during their meditation practice. It is generally agreed however that yoga has its origins in India and that the practice of these simple but powerful exercises began many thousands of years ago. The oldest archaeological evidence of yoga is cited as being carvings of figures in yoga-like poses found on stone seals excavated from the Indus Valley. These carvings date as far back as 3000BC showing us that people have benefitted from this advanced exercise system since antiquity. The first written evidence of yoga can be found in the vast collection of Sanskrit scriptures known as the Vedas. ‘Veda’ means ‘knowledge’ in Sanskrit and some sections of these texts date from around 2500BC. The Vedas are a large collection of spiritual texts, similar to hymns and meditations, written by sages and prophets. They emphasised self-awareness, wisdom and intuition – all still important parts of today’s modern yoga philosophy. Following on from the Vedas the best known of all yogic scriptures the Bhagavad Gita or ‘Lord’s Song’ was written sometime around the sixth century BC. The Gita is part of the epic poem the Mahabharata written by Vyasa. The Gita is devoted solely to yoga and tells the story of how Lord Krishna shows the warrior prince Arjuna how to follow the yogic path of service, devotion and wisdom to achieve liberation. The Yoga Sutras compiled by the sage Patanjali around 800BC are lessons on yoga that are still referenced by yoga teachers today. Patanjali developed the eight-limbed path to yoga that is made up of the following: Yamas or ‘restraints’ aimed at eliminating negative qualities. Niyamas or ‘observances’ aimed at developing positive qualities. Asanas or ‘postures’ the yoga exercises themselves. Pranayama or ‘breath control’ the breathing exercises. Pratyahara or withdrawing the senses in preparation for meditating. Dharana or ‘concentration.’ Dhyana or ‘meditation.’ Samadhi or super consciousness, ecstasy or self-realisation. Yoga made its way from East to West towards the end of the 19th Century, studied at first as part of Eastern Philosophy courses. It was later adopted as a health movement around the 1930s when the concept of vegetarianism also became popular. By the 1960s the popularity of yoga continued to soar with many respected yoga teachers moving to the west to teach, or sending their student teachers to spread the message of their particular yogic teachings worldwide. The belief being that many old souls from the East were being reincarnated in the West. Today yoga is still practiced with the spiritual emphasis but many mainstream gyms and fitness clubs also run simple exercise-based classes and there are many different types of yoga to choose from. Practiced by both the young to the old, yoga continues to be an excellent system for maintaining health and flexibility whilst achieving peace and calm. Guide To the Different Types Of Yoga There are many different types of yoga that have been developed by various respected yoga teachers over the years. The kind of yoga class you choose will depend on your needs, level of experience and personal tastes and you may have to try a few different styles of yoga before you find a type that particularly suits you. The following is a list of some of the most common types of yoga and a brief explanation about how they work. Ashtanga Ashtanga yoga is a vigorous, fast-paced variety of yoga that is favoured by those who want a serious work out. Ashtanga yoga was developed by K. Pattabhi Jois and includes challenging poses that require a good level of strength and endurance and vinyasas, which are fast flowing sequences of yoga poses. It is sometimes called Power Yoga. Bikram Bikram yoga was developed by Bikram Choudrey and incorporates 26 asanas (postures) and two breathing exercises. The whole session takes place in a heated room. The heat is said to aid flexibility and speed up detoxification of the body. Bikram Yoga is sometimes referred to as Hot Yoga. Hatha Hatha yoga is perhaps the most popular and well-known type of yoga. Most other styles of yoga such as Ashtanga and Bikram have their origins in Hatha Yoga. Many traditional poses are found in this type of yoga and poses are generally held for longer. This is a good type of yoga for beginners because it teaches you all the basic and the traditional asanas or postures. Iyengar Iyengar yoga was named after its founder B K S Iyengar. It focuses very much on correct alignment and the avoidance of injury. Props are often used in Iyengar yoga to help your practice such as straps, blocks, bolsters and more. Poses are also held longer in this type of yoga. Kundalini Kundalini focuses on trying to awaken Kundalini, a powerful energy we all possess, said to be located at the base of the spine. This type of yoga includes lots of breath work, seated poses, chanting and meditation.