What Is Yoga And How To Get Started? | New Health and Fitness

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As a Sanskrit word, Yoga means union ? a meeting of the spirit, mind and body. The goal is to achieve enlightenment or self-realization. Well, that was the original intention, anyway. Most people would be pretty happy with a bit of stress relief and some improvement in their health and physique.

Quite a few words in Sanskrit, an ancient language from India, are used below. Translations (both literal and in context) have been provided. So ?moksha? is enlightenment or achievement of divinity, and an ?asana? would be a position or pose that one is required to take.

Then there is Pranayama, which means an extension of the life-force (prana). Practically speaking and in this context, Pranayama refers to breathing techniques that will be used. Then there is Kundalini which literally translated means a coiled serpent but here it refers to the coiled up energy within. Lastly there is Dhyana, which is meditation.

Quite a few different Yoga types or styles have been developed in the past 3000 years, based on the above components and their variations. Beginners need to choose 1 or 2 styles and stick with them as part of a daily routine. It can be a couple of hours in a class, with fashionable yoga pants and designer mats. It could also mean a new way of life based on a fundamental philosophy shift.

Popular styles followed in classes in the West include Vinyasa and Hatha. Vinyasa is where the class begins with a Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation), and this makes it ideal as a morning routine to ring in the new day. Hatha is a simple but complete style incorporating all four components mentioned above.

Hatha is preferred by beginners because of the slow and gentle movements and focus on Pranayama. The need to approach it with a tranquil mind, followed by simple asanas and the impact of the breathing techniques, makes it perfect for winding down after a hard day. It relaxes the mind and body, and the stress melts away with each breath.

Ashtanga is a strenuous style, with 75 asanas that have to be taken in less than 2 hours. By the end of it, the body generates intense heat from the inside, causing a river of sweat which makes it a good detox for the muscles, skin and internal organs. Another style called Bikram is even more precise in this regard, and its 26 asanas to be done in a hot room stretch joints and muscles in a systematic manner to push oxygen rich blood to every tiny part of the body.

At the other end, Iyengar Yoga is a simple type that can be practiced by anyone, with no barriers for age or health or physical conditions. A simple asana is held for a set period with the help of props like sticks or pillows. The focus and discipline needed to maintain the position clears the mind and provides stress relief.

The centuries old techniques of Bikram yoga poses can assist you in alleviation of many negative conditions. You can try yoga for anxiety or for other purposes.

Source: http://newhealthandfitness.org/2012/03/10/what-is-yoga-and-how-to-get-started/

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