The ancient spiritual practice of Yoga began in India but many people across the globe today practice this ancient art form for its health benefits. Yoga uses both mind and body, but what are the benefits of yoga for a person who wishes to join a class for the first time?
Yoga Health Benefits
People start doing yoga for many different reasons, maybe to alleviate back pain, to become stronger or more flexible or to feel more relaxed and to improve their body. The health benefits of yoga include;
Increased strength
Improved flexibility
Pain relief
Better posture
Improved breathing
Improved balance and co-ordination
Stress relief
Improved sleep
Relaxation in mind and body
Improved focus and concentration
Weight loss
Improved flexibility
Pain relief
Better posture
Improved breathing
Improved balance and co-ordination
Stress relief
Improved sleep
Relaxation in mind and body
Improved focus and concentration
Weight loss
Yoga postures are called asanas and there are hundreds of them, each with a health benefit. Some postures assist in stretching and relaxing muscles, some develop flexibility particularly to joints. Many postures will relieve digestive complaints and boosts lymphatic flow and circulation. Set poses will strengthen and tone specific body areas, for example; toning the waist or abdomen or building on upper body strength. Some of the inverted and standing postures will improve balance and co-ordination.
In a usual class an assortment of postures are used together in a sequence which will strengthen and stretch every part of the body. If yoga is practised on a regular basis strength and flexibility are increased. It is believed in India that yoga will also cure illness and this concept is now being used in the West in yoga therapy.
Different Styles of Yoga
There are many different types of yoga; some are very traditional others have been developed over time as yoga has increased in popularity throughout the world. A traditional yoga such as Iyengar yoga was created by B.K.S. Iyengar; this yoga concentrates on precision and alignment and uses belts, clocks and other props to improve postures. Ashtanga yoga is also a traditional yoga that is known for its dynamic physical style.
Dahn yoga and Bikram yoga are fairly new additions to the yoga canon. Bikram yoga is usually practised in a heated room and concentrates on improving flexibility and strength. The warm environment increases sweating which in turn helps to detoxify the body and improve weight loss, these are just some of the Bikram yoga benefits. Dahn yoga started in South Korea but has gained popularity around the world. Some dahn yoga benefits include; better flexibility, improved posture, less tension in the body, improved ability to deal with stress and improvement in sleep.
Breathing is probably the most important part of any yoga practice. The big difference between aerobics and yoga is the deep breathing. Controlled deep breathing helps to concentrate the mind, relax muscles, increase pain relief and boost circulation.
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angela_Brunno
