The Benefits of Yoga
Posted on March 1, 2009
Filed Under Wellness | Leave a Comment
Yoga is an old and ancient branch of science. It is an exercise; basically composed of ancient principles and theories that explain the connection between the mind and body of human beings. The benefits of practicing yoga are well documented by modern science. yoga is short for yogasana which means position or posture. This exercise involves the body, mind and soul of a human being. People who practice it are called Yogis. To get the most out of meditation and yoga, it can be quite helpful to keep a positive attitude.
Practitioners believe that yoga is a therapeutic exercise that brings about peace of mind while it brings stability to the body. So people practice yoga relax the body and mind and to improve health and fitness. Yoga involves postures and movements and the alignment of the body,. While yoga can be performed by people of all ages, it should be practiced under a teacher’s supervision when starting out.
Types of Yoga postures
There are many types of yoga postures. Some of the more well-known postures are discussed as follows:
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Sukhasana or Lotus is a sitting pose of yoga and is easy to perform. It is often used as the starting position. It is useful for strengthening and opening the lower back, groin, and hips.
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Tadasana or Mountain pose is used to improve the balance of mind and posture of the body.
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Virabhadrasana or Warrior is a yoga pose that can be performed after Tadasana or mountain pose. It helps to stretch legs and arms and provides strength to the bones, thus increasing the balance of the body.
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Uttanasana is a yoga posture in which the body is extended upwards and then bent in the forward position to touch the toes. It relaxes the mind and stretches the neck, back and legs,.
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Adho Mukha Svanasana or Downward Facing Dog is a yoga posture performed by putting and maintaining forehead on the floor in front of you. It helps in stretching and increasing the flexibility the back bone and hamstrings.
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Bhujangasana or The Cobra posture is performed by laying down flat on your stomach on the floor. It helps open the chest area and heart and stretches and strengthens the spine.
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Janu Shirshasana is head to knee pose of yoga exercises. It’s perfomed while sitting on the floor and attempting to touch the hand to the foot. Increases flexibility in the hamstrings, back, and arms.
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Trikonasana or the Triangle is a yoga pose in which the body is bent in the form of a triangle by separating the feet 3-4 feet and then touching one foot with one of your hands. Improves spinal flexibility opens up the torso area.
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Ardha Sarvangasana or Half Shoulderstand is a yoga pose that is formed by lying down on your back with elbows and lower arms on the floor and rise you legs up in the air. It improves circulation and thyroid function. It also stretches the upper spine and strengthens the abdomen and organs.
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Sethu Bandhasa or the Bridge is that yoga posture in which the body is laying down on the floor with arms resting at its sides while the body is risen such that the head, neck and feet are on the floor but the middle part of the body including tail, tail bone and spine is raised in the shape of an arc. It helps with the opening of the chest and low back and abdominal strength and flexibility.
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Hatha Yoga is the most difficult and demanding type of yoga postures as it requires very hard exercises and practices, immensely involving every muscles of the body.
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Pranayama is a yoga posture that involves breathing exercises.
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Dog and Cat posture helps in increasing the strength and flexibility of spinal cord.
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Savasana or the Corpse posture is performed at the end of yoga exercises session to relax the body and also provides a refreshing effect on the mind. This is consdered an easy pose to perform.
Benefits of practicing yoga
There are hundreds of benefits of yoga. Here are several of them
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It increases the body’s healing power and boosts the immune system.
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It enhances perception, improves concentration, and relaxes the mind.
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It improves the body’s overall flexibility.
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It helps with both learning and memory.
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It increases the cardiovascular ability of the heart.
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It helps to stabilize the nervous system.
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Lowers heart rate and blood pressure.
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It increases awareness and improves brain function.
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It helps in normalizing the gastrointestinal and endocrine glands’ functionality.
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It brings about greater energy and equilibrium.
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Many people have found that it helps with weightloss.
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Yoga boosts the balancing efficiency of the body.
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It relaxes the mind thus decreasing anxiety, tension, and depression.
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Helps lower cholesterol.
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It can help deal with diabetes.
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It tunes and tones the muscles.
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It proves as a treatment for arthritis, arteriosclerosis, chronic fatigue, asthma, hepatitis, insomnia and AIDS.
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The aging process can be slowed down by practicing yoga.
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