Yoga, yes yoga the best approach to body fitness. When you hear the word yoga, what comes to your mind? Let me guess. “that exercise is made for women’ or “I am not flexible enough to engage in that” or ‘it is a religious practice”. Well, permit me to share with you: Yoga is a form of physical activities that engages both the body and the mind. It combines physical exercises, breathing techniques and mental meditation to relieve stress and strengthen the muscles.
According to Wikipedia, Yoga as exercise is a physical activity consisting mainly of postures, often connected by flowing sequences. Sometimes accompanied by breathing exercises, and frequently ending with relaxation, lying down or meditation.
YOGA BEST APPROACH TO BODY FITNESS
Whereas the medical dictionary says; “The term yoga comes from a Sanskrit word which means yoke or union. Physical and mental exercises are designed to help achieve this goal, also called self-transcendence or enlightenment. On the physical level, yoga postures, called asanas, are designed to tone, strengthen, and align the body.
These postures are performed to make the spine supple and healthy and to promote blood flow to all the organs, glands, and tissues, keeping all the bodily systems healthy. On the mental level, yoga uses breathing techniques and meditation to quiet, clarify, and discipline the mind. However, experts are quick to point out that yoga is not a religion, but a way of living with health and peace of mind as its aims.
The history of yoga can be traced back to 5000 years ago in ancient Northern India. It has the prime purpose of spiritual development, training of the body and mind. To cultivate discernment, awareness, self-regulation and higher consciousness in a person. Being an old practice that has travelled far and across various continents. Different yoga types and styles have been set in place to help you accomplish your fitness desires and goals. As vigorous as it might appear at first sight, they are all possible and can help you get your desired Body Fitness. Let’s take a quick peep at some of these yoga types and their benefits:
Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga’s is a beginner’s stepping stone. It dates back to the 15th century. It is simply any style of yoga that involves movement by means of postures and pranayama breathing focusing on meditation, as it is practised in a slow and relaxed pace. Some of its main essences also introduce beginners to the main relaxation techniques and postures or positions typical of yoga, including all kinds of styles of modern yoga. There are thousands of postures in the history of the yoga of which, you can not do them all.
Bikram/Hot Yoga
This yoga type was initiated by Bikram Choudhury, hence the name was coined. It is usually practised in a heated room or hot environment with temperature ranging from 85 to 104 degrees. The Bikram yoga consists of about 26 different poses, it is a perfect type for those willing to lose weight as the heat facilitates the loosening of tight muscles, helps with detoxification and profuse sweating. It is suitable for people looking for an intense workout, wants to develop strength, flexibility and muscle tone.
Anusara Yoga
Anusara Yoga is a new form of yoga founded by John Friend in 1997. This form of yoga lays strong emphasis on alignment and is the most spiritual of all. Anusara sessions are usually accessible and light-hearted focusing on the inner self, mind, and soul. It can be categorized into three: attitude, action, and alignment. Devotion to this type of yoga increases strength, tone’s muscles, and provides relaxation for body and mind.
Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa Yoga also referred to as Ashtanga Yoga or flow in reference to the continuous movement from one posture to another and also for its variant, you can choose to practice it in a hot and humid environment. The advantage of using the Vinyasa Yoga is building of lean muscle mass throughout the body and increasing strength as the primary method to build muscle mass is that all muscle groups receive the same attention, resulting in a careful balance. Being a vigorous style of yoga, it incorporates a series of poses called sun salutations, in which each movement is matched to the breath. A session typically starts with a number of sun salutations to warm up the body in preparation for more intense stretching
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini exercises also known kriyas or ‘yoga of awareness’ is the use of movement, sound, breath and meditation to relax, restore the mind and the body, improving strength and flexibility. It serves the purpose of strengthening the nervous system, balancing glands, purifying the blood and working deeply on your subconscious.
