Are you
overworked and tense and do you find it impossible to relax even in bed at
night? Are you overweight yet lack the will-power to diet? Do you sometimes
find yourself unable to cope with the dash and tumult of everyday life? Are you
irritable, worried, nervous? Are you plagued by indigestion and other stress
symptoms? Or simply do you seek something, you know not what, which goes above
and beyond the superficial level of everyday living?
If you
answers with YES, and you need a relief, you just can’t go wrong with yoga.
What is
YOGA:
The word yoga
means "union" between the mind, body and spirit.
We can't be spiritual unless we
control our minds, which happens when body is made pure & healthy.
When Yoga
knowledge, once accumulated in your life style, it will begin to influence and
help you in your daily life, whoever you may be. It will gradually invade every
part of your life, from your attitude towards your fellow men to the way you
sleep, breathe, think, and even eat.
Yoga can
help you with your everyday problems on all levels. As you grow healthier and
more relaxed you become more gentle, less inclined to fits of irritation and
temper. Yoga provides the counter-weight so urgently needed to the ever
increasing nervous, mental and physical tensions of our modern life.
Benefits
of Yoga
There are few fitness programs that offer broad scope health benefits. Running,
for example, strengthens your cardiovascular system and strength training
builds muscle. Yoga is one of the few fitness programs that can accomplish both
and much more.
Mobility and Flexibility
As you age, and we’re talking about once you've passed that 25-year mark, your
body begins to lose some of its mobility. Your muscles can become short and
tight. Your tendons can stiffen and your joints may often feel sore. When this
happens, simple day-to-day movements can become painful or difficult. You may
not be able to touch your toes.
When you walk long distances you may notice that your back aches. And if you
try to reach over your head to put something away you may feel pain in your
neck or shoulders. This is due to a lack of mobility.
Yoga can improve your mobility, meaning it can help lengthen those tight
muscles and tendons. It can give you a better range of motion so that when you
move your body, you do it in the most efficient and effective way possible. Not
only will you feel better, you’ll stop having those awful aches and pains.
Strength
Yoga often requires you to hold a position for a long period of time. And in
most cases you’re supporting your full body weight. This requires you to build
great strength. Most yoga positions recruit strength from your large muscle
groups, your core muscles for example. As these muscles increase in strength
you’ll find it expands to other areas of your life. Your posture will improve.
You’ll be stronger, physically, and thus able to lift and carry more than you
used to. And you’ll build muscle which burns fat and looks pretty darn
fantastic too.
Reduced Stress
Yoga requires a few things that impact and reduce your stress level. The first
stress-reducing component is breathing. Many yoga styles have a structured
breathing protocol. When you focus on your breathing, it automatically lowers
cortisol (a stress hormone) and it lowers your heart rate.
Additionally,
yoga requires great focus. Some poses not only ask you to hold your body in a
balanced position, they also ask you to pay attention to your body and make
slight adjustments to improve the pose. You’re looking inward and focusing
solely on your body and the very moment you’re in. This focus reduces stress.
It’s akin to meditation and it’s wonderful for the health of your body and your
mind.
Yoga and
Your Mental Health
What’s your primary reason for practicing, or considering, yoga? For many
people, they’re looking for a way to get in great shape. After all, yoga is
known for its ability to build strength, endurance, and flexibility. It aids in
weight loss and because there are so many styles of yoga, it’s available to
almost everyone regardless of your current fitness level.
Many people
don’t realize, until after they begin taking yoga classes, that the mental
benefits are just as profound as the physical benefits.
Live in the Moment
One of the things many people strive for is an ability to focus on right now
and to let the past and the future fade away. It’s in this moment that we feel
most calm and joyful. Yet with so much going on in daily life, it can be
extraordinarily difficult to live in the moment. If you’re like many, then you
have appointments and bills to remember and a schedule to keep. Living in the
moment may seem impossible.
Yoga forces
you to be completely present. All thoughts about the mistakes you made
yesterday and the things you have to do tomorrow fade away as you try to hold a
pose and focus on your breathing. It’s meditative. When you live in the moment,
even for the short duration of a yoga class, you’ll feel more positive about
yourself, your day, and your life. This positive attitude boosts your overall
mental health in a powerful way.
Stress Reduction
There are many facets of yoga that also cause your overall stress to be
reduced. The focused breathing alone has been shown to reduce cortisol, stress
hormone, levels and lower blood pressure. Additionally, when you exercise
endorphins are released. These endorphins help boost your mood and facilitate
better stress management.
Emotional Balance
A Harvard School professor conducted a study amongst 11th and 12th graders in
high school. Keep in mind that during these developmental years emotional
balance is a large challenge. Teens often battle with depression, anger, and
feelings of overwhelm. The study found that teens that took a yoga class
instead of a traditional physical education class reported feeling more
balanced and in control of their emotions.
It may go
back the first two benefits discussed – yoga reduces stress, increases your
body’s ability to manage stress, and forces you to be in the moment. These
lessons of living in the moment and approaching problems with a clear head can
be embraced throughout the day, thus providing a stronger sense of control,
balance, and mental wellbeing.
There are numerous other yoga health benefits: improved breathing, better
posture, and weight loss are just a few more to consider.
Why to
Practice Hatha Yoga:
Hatha is
the foundation for most yoga styles. Traditional hatha is easy to learn and
suitable to all fitness levels. You’ll enjoy both active poses which challenge
you and help you increase your strength, flexibility, and endurance and
you’ll enjoy restorative and calming poses as well.
All the
exercises or asanas of Hatha Yoga are based on the formula of stretching,
relaxing, deep breathing and increasing the circulation of the blood and the
powers of concentration.
·
Hatha
Yoga is a way to detoxify, It helps you to soothe daily stresses, and become
centered.
·
Hatha
Yoga is perfect for people who are working with injuries or limitations.
·
Hatha
Yoga is designed to prepare mind and body for a calm state and
meditation.
·
Hatha
Yoga helps you improve fitness, build strength, flexibility and endurance.
·
Hatha
Yoga can be great for weight loss as it provides a complete workout
·
Hatha
Yoga can also be very beneficial for those who are pregnant or just had a baby.
Also for people who want to tap into their creative and for those who are
competitive.
