Yoga

When practicing yoga, it is not necessary to have a full understanding of yoga history in order to fully benefit from your practice. A brief understanding of the history behind yoga, however, may increase your spiritual practice and inspire you to find out more about the tradition behind the discipline. The first writings about yoga were written in Sanskrit in early religious manuscripts in India called the Vedas. The word ‘yoga’ has many meanings. The root of the word is ‘yug’ which means ‘to hitch up’, referring to fastening horse bridles to a carriage. But yoga also means ‘to actively put to use’ or ‘yoke’ or ‘join’. Today, it is agreed upon that yoga is a method of joining or a discipline. Men who practice yoga are called yogi or yogin and women who practice yoga are called yogini. Yoga was first passed from generation to generation by word of mouth. It wasn’t until about 2000 years ago when an Indian named Patanjali wrote ‘The Yoga Sutra’ that the philosophy of yoga was committed to paper. Yoga is not just about stretching and breathing and holding poses. Yoga shows us a philosophy on how to live life and deal with the challenges that we as human beings face daily. The Yoga Sutra defined this philosophy in 195 statements. Sutra can be defined as ‘thread’ or ‘aphorism’, which means ‘a short declaration of truth’. It also means ‘the concentration of a large quantity of information into a simple definition’. It is a way of looking at truths that apply to everyone despite culture in the clearest way possible. Hatha yoga, or the yoga that you do when you take a yoga class or perform yogic poses, was begun as a physical form of meditation. The physical act of yoga calms your body. It also allows your mind to become calm. It gives you the physical strength to sustain long periods of meditation. When you perform the physical practice of yoga, you are only engaging in half of the discipline as it has been practiced for thousands of years. Yoga is an incredible form of exercise and calming for the body, but it can also be used as a spiritual practice and a way to calm the mind and will as well.

Yoga is the most popular and fastest growing exercise trend of all. Over the last few years this form has really taken off. More and more people are choosing it over all other forms of exercise. Yoga is healthy and fun. Your entire body gets a total workout and a great stretch when you use yoga each day. If you are ready to take your life in a whole new direction, one that is healthy and well balanced then yoga is definitely for you. There are enough different types of yoga out there for you to try that you are sure to find one that suits both your fitness level and your pain tolerance. There is an idea floating around among the populace that yoga is a painful experience. This is simply not the case. Yoga, if done correctly, can stretch your muscles but not hurt them. There are different forms so that everyone can find just the right kind of yoga for them. The best way to get involved in this exercise regime is to try all the different kinds. Start slow and do not push yourself too hard. That is how  many people get hurt. Yoga helps to exercise not only your body but your mind as well. This is a spiritual exercise that will do wonders for your state of mind. You will find yourself much less stressed and more and more relaxed the more you do yoga. Everyone deserves to feel good and strong and that is exactly what yoga is going to do for you. It is like a natural fountain of youth. In no time people will be asking you if you got some work done, because you look so great! If you are ready to finally get on track as far as your health is concerned then give yoga a shot. See what a difference it can make to your life. There are a lot of different types of yoga today, so if you are starting out and feeling confused, consider this normal. It is best to start with a type of yoga that is appropriate for your own level of fitness, physical and spiritual goals and health condition. The 8 most common types of yoga are described in this article and briefly explained to help guide you in choosing the best type of yoga that you can start with. Physical-Focused Types of Yoga Iyengar Yoga: Iyengar yoga is focused solely on body alignment and executing precise movements. Yoga accessories such as blocks and straps are normally used by beginners who are not as flexible as the experts. Yoga accessories help assist all sorts of people to be able to do the poses comfortably. Because of the attention to details and the flexible modification of poses, Iyengar yoga is often considered a good form of exercise for people with neck or back pain, as they are likely to benefit from the random movement in the poses. Practicing Iyengar yoga will give you a good knowledge on the classics in yoga poses so that whatever other style you eventually practice, you will have the basic fundamentals on how to do each position.

In Iyengar yoga the teacher focuses more on alignment and inner awareness. This awareness starts with the body and expands to other parts of the self as one continues to practice regularly Ashtanga Yoga: Ashtanga yoga is commonly called "power yoga" because it is focused on a powerful flowing movement. The movements include pushups and lunges, which deals with strength and stamina. Ashtanga yoga is best for people who have a strong back, or have successfully overcome back injuries and are looking for more challenging practice. Athletic people such as runners, cyclists and gymnasts who wish to add more balance and concentration to their routines are also fans of Ashtanga yoga. Bikram Yoga: Bikram yoga is also known as the "hot yoga" because it is done in a very warm room. Bikram yoga is an excellent tool to increase flexibility because the heat helps you to stretch. Keep in mind that Bikram yoga is not safe for anyone who has developed cardio vascular diseases, because vigorously exercising in the heat places strain placed on the body. Mental-Focused Types of Yoga Bhakti yoga: or commonly known as devotional yoga. Bhakti yoga focus on self surrender in the face of the divine, if you know what that means. Mantra yoga: Mantra yoga is known as the "yoga of potent sound". Mantra yoga aims at liberation through the verbal or mental repetition of empowered sounds, such as "om," "hum," and "ram." Viniyoga: Viniyoga yoga links breathe and movement in flowing exercises that are modified to each individual. Viniyoga is a good form of yoga for those with back problems or neck injuries because it can be easily adapted by everyone. Raja Yoga: Raja yoga aims for liberation through meditation. This style of yoga is meant for people who are capable of intense concentration. As you can see, there are many types of yoga to choose from. It is a good idea to discuss the type of yoga practiced before engaging in any yoga class. In particular, learn which philosophy your teacher uses, so you'll know if it will be a gentle, passive yoga, or a bone crunching form. Both you and your teacher will be glad you knew what you were getting into, before the class begins.