Yoga is not just exercise form. It’s very much having routine and the ‘me time” with your soul and subconscious. Listed are few benefits long and short term benefit of yoga that we miss out on:
- Yoga gives you flexibility but also strengthens muscle.
- Yoga helps reduce weight but by working on your metabolism and psychological contributors to binge eating.
- Yoga did not evolve as religious practice but a spiritual practice with focus on inner balance. Idea is to connect with higher source of energy.
- Yoga does not have a fix regime but can be tailored to address the human condition whether physiological (pregnancy) or pathological (Diabetes, cancer, hypertension, Asthma etc)
- Yoga is practiced by people specializing in any form of fitness routine like Zumba, aerobics and Tabta, as it is considered ideal for conditioning both mind and body.
Elderly that practice yoga regularly remain independent in works of daily routine (physically and mentally).
Various types of yoga that might be a fit for you
Hatha Yoga: Most popular and synonymous with Yoga, it consists of physical exercises (known as asana or postures), and sequences of asana, designed to align your skin, muscles, and bones. Slow and gentle movements so it's a great type of yoga to wind-down at night or before getting out of bed in morning.
Iyengar Yoga: A form of Hatha yoga with focus on details, and correct alignment in performance of posture. Expect lots of props with this type of yoga such as blocks, harnesses, straps, and even cushions. There's also a lot of focus on alignment so Iyengar can be great for physical therapy.
Anusara Yoga: Another form of Hatha yoga founded in 1997 by John Friend. Anusara (Flowing with Grace) is epitomized by "the celebration of the heart”. It was founded on similar principle of alignment and action as Iyenger yoga, however, it differs by making attitude as equally important contributor. Attitude implies to having soft hearted devotion and open mindedness. Best for people looking for a routine that is a blend of meditation and exercise.
Vinyasa Yoga/Power Yoga: This is instructor lead model of yoga. It is also known as Flow yoga because of the smooth way that the poses run together and become like a dance. The breath becomes an important component because the teacher will instruct you to move from one pose to the next on an inhale or an exhale. Vinyasa literally translated from Sanskrit means "connection," It's the most popular style of yoga in America. Great for improving flexibility and for those that likes aerobics or tai-chi.
Kundalini Yoga: This form of yoga is focused on connecting consciousness with life energy or "Kundalini" residing in Root Chakras. These chakras are position on various level of human central nervous system. This form of yoga will appeal to those with existential bent of mind.
Ashtanga Yoga: Ashtanga yoga literally means "eight-limbed yoga," as outlined by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. According to Patanjali, the path of internal purification for revealing the Universal Self consists of the following eight spiritual practices:
· Yama [moral codes]
· Niyama [self-purification and study]
· Asana [posture]
· Pranayama [breath control]
· Pratyahara [sense control]
· Dharana [concentration]
· Dhyana [meditation]
· Samadhi [absorption into the Universal]
Ashtanga is definitely physically demanding. It's probably best suited for an ex-athlete or someone looking to really push their body.
Restorative Yoga: Restorative Yoga seeks to achieve physical, mental and emotional relaxation with the aid of props. The use of props makes it easier for you to maintain balance while you are stimulating and relaxing your body. Looking to wind down after a long day of work? Or perhaps you want to quiet your mind? Restorative yoga might be the answer as it's focused on relaxation.
- Prenatal Yoga: If you're an expectant mother then prenatal yoga is probably for you. Some say that Prenatal is one of the best types of exercise for moms-to-be as there's a lot of core work and a focus on breathing. This helps mothers in prepare for labor and promote baby's health. Apart from that other standard benefits like improved sleep, reduced stress and anxiety, and increased strength, flexibility and endurance of muscles.
